Archive for the ‘Social Security Debates’ Category
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The guaranteed annual income: A little idea that might just solve some very big problems
Monday, February 15th, 2016
The concept is simple. Replace the raft of income-support provisions currently administered, means-tested, audited and doled out by various levels of government – welfare, community housing allowances, employment insurance – with a single benefit. It could be run through the tax system. If your income is below a certain level, you get a cheque… It’s time to test the assumptions in the real world. Launch some guaranteed annual income pilot programs.
Tags: budget, economy, featured, ideology, poverty, standard of living, tax
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‘Basic income’ is tempting – but it could backfire
Saturday, February 13th, 2016
Proponents argue the net costs would be manageable, since other forms of social assistance would be abolished. So take away the costs of welfare, disability payments, Employment Insurance, Old Age Security, workers’ compensation, child benefit and so on. And subtract the cost of employing the many thousands of people who run those programs. Then further calculate savings that would be realized in health costs, prisons and mental health caused by poverty, they say. Those savings, though, would depend on dismantling the social safety net constructed over past decades. How believable is it that that could be done without enormous resistance?
Tags: budget, economy, ideology, jurisdiction, participation, standard of living, tax
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It’s not up to city to alleviate poverty
Tuesday, February 9th, 2016
Canada’s Constitution clearly spells out the responsibilities of the provinces and those of Ottawa… Personal and corporate incomes are taxed and split between each province and Ottawa… Combined, for better or worse, these governments are mandated to ease poverty and have the only tools to redistribute income… Let each level of government focus on its own complicated duties… triplication will only be slower and costlier in the long run.
Tags: budget, economy, homelessness, ideology, jurisdiction, poverty, standard of living, tax
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Valuing income [GAI]
Monday, February 8th, 2016
… a GAI would avoid the discrimination and stigmatization suffered by many welfare recipients. Also, it would increase personal freedom because use of the money would not be directed in a specific way. And it would compensate those involved in unpaid care work (mostly women), unlike current income-support programs that tie eligibility to labour market attachment.
Tags: budget, economy, globalization, ideology, poverty, standard of living, tax
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Region supports basic income guarantee
Saturday, February 6th, 2016
… councillors voted… in favour of a motion calling on provincial and federal governments to work towards developing a guaranteed basic income – adding their support to a motion approved by the City of Kingston in December… “We know that working is no longer a pathway out of poverty, when working full time at minimum wage means that you are still living below the poverty line.” She said automation is replacing human labour, and it’s taking away many people’s livelihoods.
Tags: economy, globalization, ideology, participation, poverty, standard of living
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Minister eyes guaranteed minimum income to tackle poverty
Friday, February 5th, 2016
The federal Liberals have made ambitious promises to tackle poverty and to work with the provinces on improving Canada’s social safety net in areas such as skills training and employment insurance. Any major reforms would require the co-operation of the provinces, given the overlapping responsibilities for dealing with poverty… versions of the idea have appeal across the political spectrum, as it could lead to a larger or smaller role for government depending on the model.
Tags: economy, featured, ideology, poverty, standard of living
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Hey Finland! Canada Tried Guaranteed Income Once, and It Worked
Monday, January 25th, 2016
… the Finnish plan wouldn’t claw back pensions or other benefits. The 800 euros would be pocket change for the affluent, but (protected from inflation) a lifesaver for the poor. They could enjoy a degree of control over the kinds of jobs they’re willing to accept, and the kinds of services they would spend their money on… Feeling out of control of one’s own life is a demoralizing experience that triggers stress, which in turn triggers antisocial behaviour and self-medication.. This is precisely why unequal societies tend to have higher levels of violence and incarceration and shorter life expectancies than equal societies, as researchers like Richard Wilkinson have documented.
Tags: economy, featured, ideology, participation, poverty, standard of living
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Ottawa Must Get Serious about Poverty Reduction
Friday, January 22nd, 2016
Despite Ottawa’s responsibility for more than three-quarters of income security payments in the country, it had not assumed leadership on this front over the past ten years… a National Poverty Strategy… can set important goals, create mechanisms to monitor progress, and improve coordination of the government departments and non-governmental organizations involved in the multiple routes to poverty reduction – including training, literacy programs, affordable housing and reformed social assistance.
Tags: budget, featured, housing, ideology, jurisdiction, poverty, standard of living
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Ontario pension plan will launch in 2017 regardless of CPP changes, Kathleen Wynne says
Tuesday, January 5th, 2016
“whatever enhancement to CPP is put on the table — has to be as good what we’re proposing for ORPP,” said Wynne. “It has to solve the problems that we’ve identified, which (include the) adequacy of the benefit, and target the people who don’t have workplace pension plans…” Starting next year, workers at companies with 500 employees or more that do not have registered workplace pension plans will be forced to earmark 0.8 per cent of their pay toward an ORPP contribution… matched by employers
Tags: ideology, participation, pensions, standard of living
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Prospect of minimum income gaining steam as Canada clamours for new ways to manage welfare and benefits
Monday, December 28th, 2015
Unusually for an economic policy, guaranteed income is popular on the economic left and right, on libertarian grounds, or for efficiency or institutionalized fairness… For Canada, it would be unusually dramatic. But as official policy of the ruling party, it is set to get a serious hearing.
Tags: disabilities, economy, featured, globalization, ideology, poverty, standard of living, tax
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