Ontario basic income pilot Archives

Benns’ Belief: Conservatives and basic income

Published on January 20, 2020 in Opinion/Social Issues by Roderick Benns

For many years I have argued for the need for a well-planned basic income guarantee. For ought not the citizens of a country have a fair claim to a small dividend of the society we have all helped to create?

I have spoken with politicians of all political stripes on this matter over the past few years, including three high-profile federal Conservatives. These three Tories — all of whom were connected to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney’s governments — were at least open to trying basic income pilots.

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How the Canada Child Benefit ‘basic income’ helped out these 5 local women

Published on September 15, 2019 in Business/Community/Social Issues by Roderick Benns

Julia Taylor knows all about the power of a basic income, although she wasn’t a part of the Ontario Basic Income Pilot that occurred in Lindsay, Hamilton, and Thunder Bay area. Taylor’s ‘basic income’ was her Canada Child Benefit, something nearly four million Canadians receive.

“Receiving that benefit topped up our income so I didn’t have to go back to work (right away) — it was my guaranteed basic income,” Taylor says.

Like basic income policy, the Canada Child Benefit comes with no strings attached for families.

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Class action law suit on basic income set for June, 2020 say Toronto lawyers

Published on September 10, 2019 in Community/Provincial/Social Issues by Roderick Benns

Court to decide if there’s ‘legitimate claim’ for class action over cancelled basic income project

The class action lawsuit launched by four people from Lindsay who were once on the Ontario Basic Income Pilot is moving ahead with a late June, 2020 court date.

The Toronto law firm of Cavalluzzo LLP was in Lindsay yesterday to hold two public sessions in order to update people who were on basic income and to let them know the current status of the class action lawsuit.

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Quarter of basic income recipients spent time volunteering: Survey

Published on December 30, 2018 in Community/Social Issues by Roderick Benns

OBIP Chronicles — A quarter of the people who were collecting basic income chose to volunteer at least some of their time, once they felt more financially stable, according to a survey about the Ontario Basis Income Pilot.

Proponents of a basic income have long maintained that when people have a financial foundation they are more likely to give of their time to others.

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More than a third of basic income recipients went back to school: Survey

Published on December 20, 2018 in Community/Education/Health/Social Issues by Roderick Benns

OBIP Chronicles – More than 33 per cent of respondents to a survey about the Ontario Basis Income Pilot were going back to school to further their education.

Jenna, a woman in her 40s, says her partner was able to go back to school and their son was able to participate in activities that helps with his motor disorder.

“My partner felt previous problems returning,” after the basic income pilot’s cancellation she says in the survey. “We only received a very small amount of money, comparatively, but it made a huge difference.”

More than 1,500 of the 4,000 basic income pilot recipients agreed to help the Basic Income Canada Network and the Ontario Basic Income Network continue working for a basic income. BICN conducted a survey of those people. Well over 400 responses have already come back, representing more than 10 per cent of those receiving basic income in Ontario, allowing us to write this special series. The Lindsay Advocate, working in cooperation with BICN, is pleased to be the media partner highlighting these stories. Names have been changed to protect identities.

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Woman on basic income opens new business – right beside MPP’s office

Published on November 6, 2018 in Business/Community/Health/Social Issues by Roderick Benns

A local woman who is on the Ontario Basic Income Pilot in Lindsay, knowing it will end soon, has opened a small fabric business – right beside local MPP Laurie Scott’s office.

Karen Suggitt says when they cancelled the pilot she was just on her second month and “very tense about what would happen.”

She had been gathering fabric-related items while she was working and purchased a small inventory with the little she had in savings and credit. She found some rental space at 6 Lindsay St. N., right beside Lori’s Family Hair Care, and just a couple units away from Scott’s office.

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Legal Action on Basic Income ongoing, says lawyer Mike Perry

Published on October 29, 2018 in Around Town/Community/Education/Health/Social Issues by Lindsay Advocate

The legal action against the Ontario government for cancelling the basic income pilot project is continuing on track, according to Lindsay lawyer Mike Perry.

The legal action is proceeding on two fronts. The first is a request to the court to overturn the Minister’s decision to cancel the pilot project. Originally scheduled to be heard in October, the matter will now be heard in Ontario Superior Court (Divisional Court) in late January, 2019.

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After basic income, ‘rapid reinstatement’ back to previous program: Province

Published on April 11, 2018 in Community/Social Issues by Roderick Benns

With only four days to go to sign up for the Ontario Basic Income Pilot, a Provincial spokesperson says recipients of basic income shouldn’t feel there will be a hassle in returning to their previous program, such as Ontario Works or disability.

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Don’t leave ‘free money’ on the table: Still about 1,200 spots left for basic income

Published on March 12, 2018 in Around Town/Community/Social Issues by Roderick Benns

In the three cities in Ontario where basic income is being tested – which includes Lindsay – there are still about 1,200 open spots for lower income people.

If you’re working or own your own business but just not earning enough, or if you’re on Ontario Works or disability, you might be eligible.

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Majority of basic income applicants continue to be low income workers

Published on January 6, 2018 in Around Town/Community/Social Issues by Roderick Benns

As basic income enrollments continue in Lindsay and two other Ontario cities, one key trend seems to be emerging – the so-called ‘working poor’ are the majority of applicants who are flocking to the Province’s new Ontario pilot.

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