Free public discussion on basic income at Fleming College

By Lindsay Advocate

Free public discussion on basic income at Fleming College

The Ontario Basic Income Network (OBIN) is hosting a free public discussion on basic income in early November at Fleming College’s Frost Campus in Lindsay.

The Nov. 3 event is a chance to explore how basic income might benefit the town, according to Chair of OBIN’s provisional steering committee, Rob Rainer.

“The public event is an opportunity to explore the various ways basic income could really help the people of Lindsay,” he says.

“A diversity of speakers will be sharing their varying perspectives on the difference basic income could make,” Rainer adds.

Lindsay is critical to the success of the pilot, he notes, given the size of the town and the number of expected sign-ups.

Free public discussion on basic income at Fleming College
Rob Rainer, OBIN.

“The town is so important to the Ontario pilot project because of the potential number who will sign up and the percentage of the town’s population that may participate in the pilot,” he says.

Out of the 20,000 people in Lindsay, about 2,000 are expected to sign up, or 10 per cent of the population.

“It is in Lindsay that researchers involved with the pilot will likely best be able to assess community-wide impacts of basic income,” Rainer says.

Speakers at the event include:

  • Roderick Benns, publisher of The Lindsay Advocate and vice chair of OBIN
  • Mike Perry, past chair, Kawartha Lakes Food Coalition
  • Josephine Grey, human rights advocate, Low Income Families Together
  • Dr. Bert Lauwers, CEO, Ross Memorial Hospital
  • Police Chief John Hagarty, Kawartha Lakes Police Service
  • Marlene Morrison Nicholls, president, Stewart Morrison Insurance Brokers
  • Tim Ellis, OBIN

Basic income sign-ups are ramping up in Lindsay, with in-person enrollment sessions beginning tomorrow and Friday (Oct. 12-13) where people can complete applications to be part of the pilot.

Where and When for Free Discussion

The free public discussion hosted by OBIN and its basic income allies in Lindsay will be held Nov. 3, 3:30-5:30 pm at the Glenn Crombie Theatre (Room 250) at Fleming College’s Frost Campus, 200 Albert Street South, Lindsay.

Registration opens at 3 pm.

The event is being supported by: Basic Income Canada Network, Kawartha Lakes Community Futures Development Corporation, Boys & Girls Club of Kawartha Lakes, Chiropractic Care, City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team, CMHA Peterborough and Kawartha, Community Living, Dr. Jacqueline Nichols, Kawartha Care Wellness Centre, OEYC Haliburton-Victoria, Olympia Restaurant, and Stewart Morrison Insurance Brokers Ltd.

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