Ontario ready to roll out guaranteed income pilot project

Ontario will launch a guaranteed annual income pilot project in three Ontario cities beginning this spring.

Premier Kathleen Wynne announced Monday that the Ontario Basic Income Pilot will give up to 4,000 low-income earners in Hamilton, Lindsay and Thunder Bay a basic annual income of $17,000.

Couples would earn $24,000 and people with disabilities would earn up to $6,000 on top of the basic amount. Participants are allowed to work during the pilot project but their basic income will decrease by $0.50 for every dollar they earn by working.

According to the province’s calculations, a single person with two children earning $20,000 per year would earn about $6,000 of basic income.

The pilot project is meant to replace payments available through Ontario Works, which provides financial assistance for low-income earners, and the Ontario Disability Support Program. Eligible participants will continue to receive the Ontario Drug Benefit and dental benefits.

The province will invest $50 million for each year of the three-year pilot program.