Whereas municipalities are increasingly expected to respond to gaps in Canadas social safety net resulting from growing economic, racial and health inequalities; And whereas a basic income program, in addressing key social determinants of health, such as income and housing, can alleviate pressures on municipalities to address poverty and fill gaps in social supports, such as shelter, housing, food security and mental health; And whereas evidence from basic income research and pilots shows that when people have a sufficient and secure income their mental and physical health improves, they have the capacity to secure more affordable, suitable, and safe housing, childcare, healthy food, and transportation, and poverty rates decrease; And whereas the provision of a basic livable income would benefit individuals, families and communities and protect the most vulnerable in society, and support community resilience; And whereas evidence shows that a federally funded basic income that improves peoples financial stability is possible, as successful income transfer programs already exist in Canada for seniors Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement and parents Canada Child Benefit, and to aid in recovery post-COVID Canada Emergency Response Benefit: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the Governments of British Columbia and Canada to individually andor collectively implement a Universal Basic Income, ensuring everyone has sufficient income to meet their needs, helping British Columbia and Canada lessen poverty and homelessness, alleviating the pressure on municipalities to use their limited resources to fill gaps in our social safe net.
Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction In 2018, BC convened a Basic Income Expert Panel the Panel to: - Assess the feasibility of a basic income in BC and whether BC should establish a basic income pilot; and - Examine how basic income principles could be used to improve BCs existing income and social support system. The final report from the Panel, Covering All the Basics: Reforms for a More Just Society, was released on January 28, 2021. The panel recommended against both implementing a basic income in BC and conducting a pilot, citing both complexity and cost, along with concerns about impacts on current supplemental benefits and programs. Their findings also concluded that moving to a system constructed around a basic income for all as its main pillar is not the most just policy option. Instead, the panel made 65 recommendations to update BCs existing social supports. Since the release of the report, over half of the recommendations have been fully implemented, partially implemented, or have work underway across ministries, including key recommendations like targeting a basic income and supports for youth aging out of care and increasing income assistance and disability assistance rates. While there is evidence that a federally funded basic income is possible, there remains significant concern that implementing a basic income would reduce or displace the existing social programs and tax credits that many low-income people currently rely on.