I would like to weigh in on the Federal Trudeau Liberal Government's Throne Speech and on Marion Pardy and the Newfoundland Religious Social Action Coalition's letter, "We support a guaranteed livable income," Telegram, September 23, 2020.
I am happy to hear that the Throne Speech mentioned a universal pharmacare program (it was the 5th or 6th Consecutive Throne Speech on this long overdue and urgently needed commitment for all Canadian health consumers).
From reading the Empower Disability Resource Centre's Facebook Page, September 24, the Federal Government is promising "To help another group that has hit hard by the pandemic-Canadians with disabilities." Empower said that the government is "Working on a Canadian Disability Benefit modelled on the Guaranteed Income Supplement for Seniors."
Will a new Disability GIS just cover people who are currently receiving Federal Disability Tax Credits, CPP Disability Pensions and Veterans Disability Pensions?
I fully support the Religious Social Action Coalitions call for "a Guaranteed Livable Income;" We need to act now to ensure a guaranteed livable income in order that all residents of Canada can live with dignity and with the basic necessities of life.
It is good that the United and Anglican Churches of Canada and other religious institutions are supporting a GBI. However, I would like to see our provincial and local clergy-priests, bishops, ministers, pastors, rabbis, imams and other religious leaders speak in support of this program for "the least of these" in society.
The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened awareness about the serious inequalities and gaps in our social safety net and the increased rate of poverty in society.
Canadians have been and still are struggling to pay the rent, heating, food, uninsured medical expenses and other basic life necessities.
Back on September 23rd of this year, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh stated "It's clear that we can’t go backward. This is the time to fix what isn't working... Throughout this crisis, as people struggled to stay employed, to keep food on the table, and a roof over their heads, we made sure workers and their families got the help they need. At every step, we had to force the Trudeau government to match their words with action. And we got better solutions: on money for safely returning to school; on income support for people out of work; on help for seniors, for individuals living with a disability, for students and for small businesses..."
I support a basic income, but one that is universally accessible to all Canadians who fall below a minimum quality of living. I don’t support the idea of sending cheques to everyone, including the wealthiest Canadians.
For the past two years now, I have been the chair of the All-Party Anti-Poverty caucus on Parliament Hill. During this time, I have devoted the majority of my efforts in that caucus to advocating and promoting the idea of a basic income in Canada.
In the past, I have brought Evelyn Forget and Sheila Regehr from the Basic Income Canada Network and former Senator Art Eggleton to these meetings in Ottawa to note the success these programs would have in Canada and vital this would be to so many of our citizens.
Earlier in the pandemic, I again convened meetings on a basic income. These meetings resulted in a letter signed by 70 parliamentarians to call on our government to extend the CERB, expand its eligibility criteria and re-design it as a negative income tax.
In my opinion, a Guaranteed Basic Income is a logical, economical and practical alternative to the costly patchwork of duplicating and overlapping federal, provincial/territorial, and in Ontario's case, municipal social programs.
A Guaranteed Basic Income can lower poverty-related physical and mental illnesses; prevent suicides and saves lives, reduce hunger and homelessness, lower unemployment, enable people to contribute in so many ways to society (in taxes and volunteerism) and promotes a healthier quality of life.
In the long term, a GBI can save all levels of government a lot of money. Of course, GBI in itself cannot eliminate poverty, but it can surely reduce it. With a GBI Government and all society's stakeholders still have to pursue a "living" minimum wage, pharmacare, dental care, affordable, accessible housing and other health and social programs vital to the well being of all Canadians.
Edward Sawdon, St. John's, NL
