Mayor says minimum income worthy of further discussion
Saskatoon’s mayor says giving everyone a guaranteed minimum income is an idea all federal politicians should discuss during the upcoming election campaign.
Don Atchison says he hasn’t studied the idea — which is publicly supported by the mayors of Calgary and Edmonton — but is open to discussions.
“It’s an interesting concept,” Atchison said.
“It is certainly something that is worthy of all the federal parties to have a discussion and determine what their platform should be.”
A guaranteed minimum income, known as a “mincome,” would act as reverse income tax — giving people who don’t meet a certain income level a top up. It’s an experimental economic policy and has never been tried out in Canada, but recent endorsements by Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson have meant the idea is gaining traction.
Iveson has suggested that both cities might be willing to host pilot programs to evaluate the consequences of ensuring income to adults.
Alberta’s new finance minister Joe Ceci has also supported the idea in the past.
Atchison would not endorse the concept, but he isn’t rejecting it either. He just hopes that the mincome would not come at the expense of other money and programs — relating specifically to infrastructure — that are offered to cities by the federal government.
“I am concerned about our infrastructure and that, in the city of Saskatoon. One thing for sure is, I don’t want to be talking about these types of issues like guaranteed income and then be told, ‘You wanted guaranteed income so therefore you don’t get anything else,’ ” Atchison.
He said his focus is ensuring federal funds for things such as roads and bridges.