e-2555 (Social affairs and equality)
- Keywords
- Guaranteed annual income
Original language of petition: English
Petition to the House of Commons
- Providing a basic income to residents has been shown in tests around the world to improve social outcomes and equity;
- The government has introduced measures to provide income to those who cannot work due to the COVID-19 crisis;
- Canada already provides a universal basic income to seniors, the Old Age Security (OAS);
- Canada also provides other payments such as Employment Insurance (EI), and similar provincial benefits;
- Canada currently provides low-income residents with tax credits such as the GST/HST credit and Canada workers benefit rather than ensuring no Canadian resident lives in poverty;
- Canada is facing an economic climate that could lead to substantial permanent job losses, induced not only by the COVID-19 pandemic but also by automation, as well as the transition away from fossil fuels;
- Lack of income is a leading contributor to Canada's housing and mental health crises; and
- The OAS is an existing benefit known to work, easy to administer, taxable, means-tested (through the Part I.2 tax clawback), and includes guaranteed income through the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
- Open for signature
- May 26, 2020, at 9:35 a.m. (EDT)
- Closed for signature
- July 25, 2020, at 9:35 a.m. (EDT)
- Presented to the House of Commons
-
Peter Julian
(New Westminster—Burnaby)
June 3, 2021 (Petition No. 432-01035)