As a self-proclaimed leftie and basic income supporter, I began Hugh Segal’s Bootstraps Need Boots: One Tory’s Lonely Fight to End Poverty in Canada both skeptical and curious. In this memoir-meets-case for basic income, the former Senator brings his personal and political experiences into conversation, resulting in a read that is both enjoyable and informative.

The Lobby Day team at OBIN has produced Letter#3 to send to your local MP as well as other MP's. It’s OK if there is duplication - this is in part a numbers game. Please let us know at [email protected] who you send letters to so we can track the results.

We are starting to get feedback from MP’s. This means we are making headway with our letter writing campaign. The more letters our federal elected officials receive, the more they know a Basic Income program is an important issue for Canadian citizens.

Letter#3 is posted on the Lobby Day page.

Ontario Basic Income Network June 2020 Newsletter is posted here.

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By Carol Stalker | Special to Waterloo Region Record | May 26, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to much discussion about a basic income program for Canada. The Basic Income Waterloo Region advocacy group is pleased to see increased recognition that if a basic income program had been in place prior to the current crisis, the government would have had a firmer foundation on which to build the crisis response.

Webinar hosted by The Tamarack Institute on 27 May 2020.

Young people are facing a range of systemic issues that will significantly impact their futures as they enter the job market, start families, and seek financial prosperity. However, they are being faced with financial crises, a labour market becoming increasingly precarious, growing inequality, climate change, and amidst COVID-19, social norms will never be the same.

Join host, Mark Sutcliffe, for an online conversation on ending poverty with Hugh Segal, whose latest book, Bootstraps Need Boots, lays out the moral framework and the economic rationale for a universal guaranteed annual income for all. The discussion (May 26) will be followed by an audience Q&A.

Tracy Smith-Carrier's response to Mr. Milloy's recent article:

John Milloy’s recent piece in National Newswatch states that Basic Income is far from a slam dunk on a number of counts, not least of which includes the assumption that it would create the conditions of “a steady stream of tales of misuse, double dipping and downright fraud.”

Is a basic income on the horizon?

Advocates would say “absolutely”. It seems a day doesn’t go by without another opinion piece pointing out that the pandemic has created the ideal conditions for its adoption here in Canada.

People want radical change, especially for people who are struggling.

COVID-19 may render millions permanently unemployed and adopting a basic income would be truly transformative.

The following editorial from Maclean's magazine suggests a national Basic Income may be the logical next step based on the relative success of the current emergency programs and the desire to eliminate poverty in Canada.

There is much evidence indicating why a Basic Income is now urgently needed. This includes what it should be as well as the costs and benefits of minimizing income insecurity  for all Canadians. However, implementing a national program will not be simple due to the diversity of Canadian society and the complexity of jurisdictional  responsibilities as well as the plethora of existing social assistance programs at all levels of government.

How the program is designed, developed, tested and implemented will have definite impact on its acceptance and sustainability.

Joe Foster has been a long time advocate for a Basic income from the perspective of  human rights, politics and economics and is presently the OBIN Coordinating Team Facilitator.