Ontario Basic Income Network

Ontario Basic Income Network (OBIN) is a coalition committed to seeing Basic Income implemented in Ontario. It's a bold vision of dignity and justice for every Canadian regardless of work status—and we're inviting you to join our growing community of advocates.

Basic Income is an approach to economic security supported across the political spectrum. It provides a guaranteed level of income to cover basic needs, protecting a shrinking middle class and providing a real alternative to being trapped in the welfare cycle.

If it sounds like a new idea, it's really not. This is something we already do in Canada through the Guaranteed Income Supplement for seniors and the Child Tax Benefit for parents. They have been a massive success for decades in supporting seniors and families with children, with incredible benefits to the economy and to communities.

There is every reason to expect Basic Income can work well for other Canadians as well, far better than demeaning and stingy social assistance programs, and far better than forcing precariously employed people to bear all the risk of life's ups and downs on their own. What’s more, the government’s rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us not only that it is necessary – but that it is possible. That is why we believe that the time is NOW for Basic Income


In February 2023, the national movement of Basic Income along with OBIN developed and approved a Consensus
Statement on a Basic Income Guarantee.  

 

 


  • Latest from the blog

    Annual General Meeting and Virtual Event September 16th, 2023 at 10 am

    You’re invited to attend the Ontario Basic Income Network’s Annual General Meeting and Virtual Event, held over Zoom, on: Saturday, September 16th, 2023 You can attend using the Zoom invitation link below: OBIN AGM: 10:00 am to 10:45 am Food Security and a Basic Income Panel Discussion: 11:00 am to 12:30 pm Please join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83424597641?pwd=dXRUK3ZaSmdYY3BIUVNQcFZ6UkFKQT09 Meeting ID: 834 2459 7641 Passcode: 975572 The meeting agenda and reports will be shared prior to the meeting. We will start our meeting with general business and conclude with a panel discussion on food security and a basic income, moderated by Member of Parliament Mike Morrice. The panelists include representatives from: https://proof.utoronto.ca/ https://www.dailybread.ca/about/who-we-are/ https://www.odph.ca/about-us New Research on the impact of Ontario Basic Income Pilot on people’s food practices Please join us on September 16th!
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    AGM Nov. 5th

    You’re invited to attend the Ontario Basic Income Network’s Annual General Meeting and to hear from guest speakers during a zoom meeting on: Saturday, November 5th, 2022 9.30 am to 12.30 pm Register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUoce6qrz4sE9TphfwLnL5o7Ezv_ouBHcKu    (agenda and reports will be shared prior to the meeting) We will start our meeting with general business and conclude with guest speakers including Senator Bernadette Clement.  Updates on the Basic Income movements nationally and provincially will be provided.   Please join us! 
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    Public Service Alliance of Canada hosts Why Northern Communities Need a BI

    Monday, October 24 5:30- 6:30 PM MDT 7:30- 8:30 PM EDT A just recovery from the pandemic means that no one is left behind. What is Guaranteed Livable Basic Income? What does it mean for communities in the North? Join us for a virtual event on why northern communities need Guaranteed Livable Basic Income. We’re looking forward to hearing from MP Leah Gazan and Craig Berggold. PSAC North REVP Lorraine Rousseau will moderate the discussion. At the end of the event, participants will have the chance to take part in a digital action in support of our demand for Guaranteed Livable Basic Income. There will be French and Inuktitut simultaneous interpretation.  
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    Ottawa BI Rally Makes News

    On Tuesday, for the opening session of parliament, Basic Income Ottawa held a rally outside parliament to remind MPs of the importance of Basic Income. MPs like Leah Gazan, MP for Winnipeg Centre, came out to show their support. Ottawa City News came by and Joe Foster gave a great interview you can listen to here.
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    Green Resilience Project Final Report Launch

    Mark your calendar! ​​On April 13, Green Resilience Project will be launching their final report, which summarizes a series of conversations hosted in communities across Canada on the links between climate change, income security and community resilience. They'll be chatting with a panel of our community partners about what they heard from their communities and where we go from here. This event will be hosted via Zoom, which you can register for here. Hope to see you there!
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    Disability Without Poverty’s national director Rabia Khedr

    In an interview with BICN's Roderick Benns, Disability Without Poverty’s national director Rabia Khedr said that real headway is being made in securing a basic income for people with disabilities in Canada – and that’s good for the whole basic income movement. “I support all people having a livable income,” Khedr said. As people with disabilities, we believe everyone has the right to have their basic needs met, regardless of their ability to work. We should be supporting society’s members with their basic needs so they’re not struggling.” Khedr says basic income though is most clearly on the table for people with disabilities at the moment, given the most recent throne speech committed to the creation of a new Canadian Disability Benefit for people with disabilities. The national director says her organization came about specifically as a result of the pandemic, which pushed people with disabilities “further into the margins.” You can read the rest of the interview here.
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    NDP MP Leah Gazan introduces private member bill for GLBI framework development

    NDP MP Leah Gazan, who represents Winnipeg Centre, introduced a private member’s bill to develop a national framework for a permanent Guaranteed Livable Basic Income (GLBI) in Canada. Gazan is proposing a GLBI for all people living in Canada over the age of 17 regardless of participation in the workforce or an educational training program. Gazan also says the proposal will take into account differences in costs of living regionally, and there are provisions to ensure people with exceptional health or disability needs do not have their services reduced. Senator Kim Pate will also be introducing a similar bill in the Senate. You can see Bill C-232 here and if you click Read more below for Gazan's statements.
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    Kim Pate puts forward motion calling for examination of GLI implementation

    Senator Kim Pate, a supporter of Basic Income, recently gave a speech which you can watch here on the economic recovery after introducing a motion which calls on the Senate’s National Finance Committee to examine the human, social and financial costs of abandoning people in poverty and the potential for implementing measures such as guaranteed livable basic income. You can find out more about her motion here.
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