Advocates say time right for universal basic income

Existing social benefit schemes called inadequate and complicated

Every day Peter Gilmer works with someone who is struggling to have their basic needs met through Saskatchewan's income support program.

“The two big issues that we deal with in our office are, first of all, that when people do have benefits in place that those benefits aren't anywhere close to meeting their basic needs,” said Gilmer, an advocate with the Regina Anti-poverty Ministry.

“Issue No. 2 is that, in so many cases, people are having a hard time maintaining even that pittance of benefits because of all the verification they need to show that, indeed, the need is there.”

He said the solution is a basic income program created in partnership between the federal and provincial government.

While there are lots of ways a program like this could be implemented, Gilmer said the core goal remains the same: to have an income support program that successfully lifts people out of poverty.

About 15 people, including Gilmer, gathered to voice their support for a universal basic income program in Saskatchewan on Saturday afternoon. The small group, carrying signs that read “economic justice for all” and “end poverty now,” met near the Royal Saskatchewan Museum before marching to the Legislative Building.

Larry Neufeld, a representative of the Basic Income Saskatchewan group and former provincial and federal Green Party candidate, said he has been advocating for a universal basic income for years.

Describing the concept of universal basic income, Neufeld said it is “basically a no strings attached income support that people are given.”

Neufeld said critics of the basic income concept say the support would only create an unwillingness to work in people, but he does not believe that would be the case for the vast majority.

“Most people want to be going out and doing something,” he said.

“People need to be able to see that they have hope to build for the future, so this is not something that's going to create laziness. It's something that would actually be a motivation towards people creating better lives for themselves.”

The rally was put on by Basic Income Saskatchewan — the first event organized by the group, Neufeld said. He hopes more events will follow in the future as the group works to build more awareness and support for a basic income program.

Besides Gilmer and Neudorf, speakers at the event included former Saskatchewan Green Party leader Victor Lau, current Saskatchewan Green Party leader Naomi Hunter, Regina public school board trustee Sarah Cummings Truszkowski, city councillor Shanon Zachidniak, recent federal NDP candidate Tria Donaldson and local activist Jim Elliott.

BRANDON HARDER Larry Neufeld of Basic Income Saskatchewan told a rally in support of universal basic income at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building on Saturday that, rather than being a disincentive to work, such a program would motivate people to create a better life for themselves

BRANDON HARDER A small crowd of attendees hold signs of support during Saturday's rally in support of universal basic income at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building. The event was the first organized by a new organization called Basic Income Saskatchewan.