In two short months the idea of a guaranteed livable income or universal basic income has gone from a relatively obscure policy discussion to a mainstream debate. In early April I wrote a blog post about GLI that has had thousands of views. I've spoken at length about benefits of a guaranteed livable income in the House of Commons.
The idea has gained support across the political spectrum because it's a sound and sensible thing to do. Fifty Canadian senators have sent a letter to the Prime Minister urging the government to implement a minimum basic income. Each week there are more articles and opinion pieces in the media, speculating how a livable income might work in Canada, and the great (unintentional) experiment in GLI know as the CERB.
These are exciting times for those of us who have been advocating for a guaranteed livable income for many years. The Green Party of Canada began promoting this policy more than a decade before the first Green MP, my honourable colleague Elizabeth May, was elected to the House of Commons.
Please sign this petition and share it far and wide. We can educate each other about what a GLI is and how it aligns with the more caring, compassionate and connected society that we yearn for as we navigate our way through this crisis.
Whereas:
Guaranteed Livable Income (GLI) would guarantee a livable monthly income to every Canadian with a social insurance number;
GLI would establish an income floor below which no Canadian could fall and reflect regional differences in cost of living;
GLI would replace the current patchwork of federal and provincial income assistance programs with a single, universal, cash benefit;
GLI would be progressively taxed back based on income level;
GLI would be administered through the existing tax system and require no means testing, thereby dramatically reducing federal and provincial administration costs;
GLI would reduce poverty, thereby reducing the demand on social services, law enforcement and health care, resulting in additional cost savings for government and taxpayers; and
GLI would provide a financial safety net for all Canadians, especially through major economic shifts, pandemics, natural disasters, or industry automation.
We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to implement Guaranteed Livable Income for all Canadians.
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