.svg)
.svg)
In February 2025, UBI Works launched a national letter-writing campaign to the candidates for Liberal Leadership urging them to support basic income. Within 2 weeks, nearly 1,000 Canadians across the nation from all walks of life and political views used our tool to write personalized letters.
Leadership candidate and former House Leader Karina Gould then announced her plan to modernize Canada’s safety net and set Canada on a path to basic income. Watch Gould’s announcement and her appearances at the English and French leadership debates talking about basic income.
Here are a few snippets from the letters:
“To All, UBI works and we will all be better off.”
“Although I'm not a Liberal member, I'm still one of the many Canadians you will represent. So I hope you will also listen to us and support Basic Income for a better future.”
“If you have it in your platform, you are not only my pick to lead the Liberal Party, but I will actively campaign for you.”
“I believe basic income is hugely important and is part of upholding our values as Canadians.”
“So many jobs are being taken away by artificial intelligence, and we've only seen the very beginning of it. Child poverty will only get worse if we do not bring in this program. Ubi works.”
“I believe all Canadians should have the income security they need to flourish… basic income would pay for itself, and would be much cheaper than the cost of poverty.”
“my family has endured generations of poverty that I do not wish on anybody.”
“What could be bigger than ending poverty? Please Pledge to implement the GLBI and be remembered as the PM who ended poverty in Canada”
“I watched Star Trek with my dad all through my childhood and on Star Trek no one goes hungry on earth… Let's make our country like Star Trek.
“I am watching the younger generations give up hope; no housing, no children, no future.. If someone on UBI can then go to school and later obtain a better job or start a business, it is simply obvious to me that Canada will benefit in the long run.”
“I've seen first hand how lack of basic living income / income inequality has led to people being stuck in abusive or exploitative living and working situations.”
“This would put Canada at the forefront of social policy for the next decade or more.“
“As a taxpayer and Canadian I urge you to support a basic income … the benefits would be far reaching and would ultimately save all Canadians tax dollars”
“Although I am a high income earner, I'm writing to express my support for guaranteed basic income for Canadians. Studies have shown that it is a cost-effective way to eradicate poverty, homelessness, and hunger. “
“I'm a small business owner and employer, plus a supporter of UBI. We know it works - let's do it!”
“Research has shown that most will choose to work, some will choose to volunteer, some will focus on family welfare, and some will simply live with dignity.”
“I would be on the streets if it weren't for my parents. I am a second year university student who has been applying for jobs for over a year straight now.”
“I lost my job a year and half ago and have applied to over 1500 jobs since then. I have been homeless the last few months and this has made looking for a job even more difficult”
“Almost every person I know has watched over the last 20 years as our collective dreams of financial independence have faded away… Act on universal basic income. Make Canadian history. Take us in a new and bold direction. Please.”
“I lost 1/3 of my voice acting income due to being replaced by AI, and that work isn't coming back. My other skills in editing/proofreading/copywriting/tutoring are becoming more redundant by the week due to ChatGPT.”
“As an animator, I have begun to see parts of my job being done by AI, and the demand for skilled artists go down.”
“Working full time already takes me away from my family, a second job would basically erase them from my life.”
“We all own the resources of this country and could all benefit from those resources in the form of a dividend.”
“A guaranteed liveable basic income is the single greatest policy for alleviating food insecurity in Canada.”
The letters are as diverse as our movement. We’ve compiled more of them below, across several themes:
In today's grossly income-torqued world, Basic Income is, not only a necessity it is a basic human right. It provides dignity and respect, lifts people from despair and gives them the impetus to be active and responsible participants in their communities, cities and country. If you fully support Basic Income, you have my vote, otherwise, not.
It's time ho protect ALL Canadians with basic income. Seniors and the disabled have been left behind in all supports offered since covid times. We are struggling and make up over half the homeless and 2/3 of food bank users. And we vote!
It is the only way to get money to the people who need it most and I don't think it should be income tested. Income testing increases costs for the program by increasing need for administrative support and monitoring for the program.
If you're concerned about giving money to the highest income earners, directly increase taxes in those tax brackets.
It's time that the government actually works for all of us because right now it doesn't. Wealth inequality has skyrocketed. The time for token gestures is over.
Clearly the world is not a good place and our current trajectory is leading us to further diaster. Implementation of a Basic Income program could significantly solve most, if not all, social problems.
Advocate for Basic Income to make the world a better place and you will have mine and the votes of many who are struggling just to survive when there are enough resources for everyone to thrive.
I am writing to add my voice to the demand for establishing a guaranteed basic income for all Canadians. I will be voting based on this issue and will be making the case for the importance of this issue to everyone I know.
I don't need to get into the very well known and very proven reasons that UBI works in every study and current working examples around the world.
Whoever supports UBI will get my vote.
Basic income for Canadians is a key election issue for me. Candidates positions regarding a path forward to a basic income will be a deciding factor in how I vote.
Canada needs Universal Basic Income. UBI has proven effective in improving overall well being; reduction in stress levels related to finances have proven to have a positive impact on mental and physical health, both important factors relating to employment.
the leadership candidate who guarantees to impliment UBI in their first 2 years in office as PM will get my vote for leader.
In my consideration for which party to vote for in the upcoming federal election, one of my most important issues is a Guaranteed Basic Income. A basic income program is a powerful tool for lifting people out of poverty and breaking the chokehold employers have on the livelihood of their employees.
In this upcoming election, Guaranteed Basic Livable Income is the main issue I will be thinking about when deciding who to vote for. I urge you to please think about what a difference it would make to Canadians. Basic Income could have ripple effects on the mental health and accessability of education for young people across our great nation.
I am writing to indicate my support for a Universal Basic Income policy in Canada. UBI has the potential to reduce poverty and enable economic prosperity and mobility, and the Liberal Party has the opportunity to pave the way for the future and earn the overwhelming support of younger voters.
Make Basic Income a Priority!
We Need This! and I for one will only vote for a candidate that promises this as part of their policy platform. AI is good for only one sector, that's the corps and investors... not for the general population. It means less employment and more suffering at a time when we are all suffering so much already.
Just this once, it's time to put the hard working people who don't seem to be getting ahead first and not last. It's not right that we are doing worse than the generation before us, it's just not.
We see the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. That's just a fact.
So please, do the right thing... it's a win for everyone. This is a popular policy proposal and certainly would win votes en masse and that's what will get you elected - with 100% certainty.
I believe this is the most important platform to run on. Gather the data. Share it with Canada on how much it will cost. How efficient it will be and the deviation that will happen if we don't pass a bill financially empowering Canadians to make real choices regarding their future.
Nothing new needs be said. We desperately need Universal Basic Income Studies have all shown the positivity. The ever increasing prices on literally everything under the sun has left many people struggling. We do not ask to be born into this life, but we are here and we must struggle for shelter, food and medicine to live? It's outrageous that these things are not provided. Anything else I can understand needing to pay for. A UBI allows people to ease the burden and help pay for those necessities. At the very least a roof and four walls. I will vote for whichever candidate makes UBI a priority on their docket.
Please note that I am a staunch supporter of Universal Basic Income for Canadians. As I see it, any leadership candidate that does not see the benefits UBI provides has not got the capacity to be Prime Minister.
UBI would level the playing field - employee/employer - by eliminating the dire threat of insecure food, lodging.... basic needs. In politics, you would witness a decline in the political power of the oligarchs and a return to rule by the elected people's representatives.
I could go on but your time is precious. Remember, no UBI =no support.
If you promise to implement guaranteed basic income, I will vote for you unconditionally.
Dear Mark Carney,
Please accept our congratulations on your bid for the Liberal leadership. We are acutely aware that this country needs leadership that is in the public interest. Calls for a basic income guarantee are coming from many organizations involved in food security, mental health, the environment, Indigenous issues, artificial intelligence and more.
Canadians are facing a polycrisis and many think government is not listening or doesn’t care. They need practical help and hope, not despair. Governments can and must support the innovation, ingenuity and dynamism of individuals in their families and communities. People know what the solutions are, what they lack is capacity. No one is self-sufficient; we are all interdependent. Scarcity is a myth. As you have written, it is a matter of values.
We are seeking your support for better, fairer, income security for everyone by building on what has proven to work. Investing in the capacity of regular people to meet their basic needs means they can be more productive in their market and non-market work. They can better contribute to solutions to much of what ails us, and costs us dearly. Spending in perpetual crisis mode is both more expensive and ineffective. It stifles genuine progress.
Ordinary Canadians need reasons to trust government. Here’s what we are looking for:
• We want Canadians to hear that you understand the polycrisis they face, the hardships and the anxiety they endure, and that you will work in their interests.
• We hope that you can speak positively about your commitment to better income security for everyone that builds on proven success, like income guarantees for seniors and families with children, or the lessons of pandemic cash benefits that saved lives and the economy.
• We want federal leadership and cooperation with other levels of government and civil society to finds ways to put money in the hands of people who need it most to meet basic needs and support their capacity to fully participate in the life of this country.
We would welcome an opportunity to meet and would be more than pleased to answer questions or help in any way we are able. Our networks include people with wide and deep expertise.
Sincerely,
As a voter in the upcoming Liberal leadership contest, I would like to hear, publicly, your position on the implementation of a Universal Basic Income, and urge you to support such a measure.
I'm writing about my support for basic income because I've seen how promising it can be. The Ontario Liberals actually ran a pilot project that was showing real positive results before it was cut short. I think it's time for the federal Liberal Party to step up and launch a nationwide pilot - it would give us solid Canadian data on how basic income could help people get ahead and build better lives.
The evidence we already have from other basic income experiments shows it helps people get healthier, learn new skills, and even start businesses. By launching a federal pilot project, you could build on Ontario's groundwork and show that the Liberal Party is serious about finding real solutions to poverty and inequality.
Support of a basic income policy will be a determining factor in how I vote in the leadership campaign.
Dear Mark Carney,
I have become a member of the Liberal Party to allow me to vote for you.
Research shows the establishment of a Basic Income in Canada would save money and be more effective thatn the many programs we now have.
I ask for your support for this legislation.
To whom it may concern in addition to myself,
I registered as a Liberal voter for the very FIRST TIME EVER.I have specific expectations that should the party like to avoid a similar outcome to our Southern neighbours, the leadership consider following through on promises made to vulnerable citizens (CDB in particular) & a basic income in particular.
I strongly urge you to listen to your regular citizen supporters at this time strategically & with the understanding that fundamental changes in the population's behaviour is a real risk.
Keep your promises,
I am happy to be voting in the leadership election and would like to know if you support a basic income policy. The evidence gathered in the Ontario case study was extremely positive and I am hoping that if you were PM you would advance basic income as a policy.
Thank you.
I'm writing today as a voting member to ask for your support in working toward implementing a guaranteed basic income program in Canada.
Studies and trials have shown that strengthening our social safety net in this way really amounts to a no brainer by protecting against the potential negative effects of AI and job automation, lifting Canadians out of poverty and allowing everyone the opportunity to reach their full potential, having a near- zero effect on work and best of all costing less than the poverty status quo!
I am writing to you to strongly urge you to implement basic income if you become Prime Minister.
In the past the Liberal party has played a central role in similar benefits that greatly reduce poverty. Particularly in large urban areas, a disproportionate number of Canadians are struggling to get by. They deserve to receive a basic income, which not only allows them to have better lives, but puts less stress on our healthcare system and contributes more to our economy. In fact, a broad-based guaranteed basic income could cost only between 3 and 5% of all spending, which is less than the cost of poverty!
Thank you for considering this important issue. As a member of the Liberal party, I look forward to hearing more about your platform.
As a member of the Liberal party, a parent and person of faith, I believe I have a moral imperative to advocate for a justice society for all. A UBI is a powerful tool to add to the existing toolbox of benefits like the Canada Child Benefit, and Disabilitt Benefit.
We also know that every $1 invested in child benefits generates $2 in economic activity, while creating 450K jobs (Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis). A UBI helping parents and children struggling to escape poverty is good not just for families but our whole economy.
Universal Basic Income is critically important, both to me and those I know but also to the health and prosperity of our people in the age of AI, soaring wealth inequality, and runaway climate change due to rampant consumerism. If you have it in your platform, you are not only my pick to lead the Liberal Party, but I will actively campaign for you.
Please support an initiative to enact a universal basic income/guaranteed livable income. CERB worked, countless studies have shown UBI/GLI works, we need real change. The easiest way to help people afford the rising costs of living is simply giving them money for necessities without means-testing or strings attached. Food banks are overburdened and affordable housing is still out of reach for many. I admit I am not a Liberal voter, in part because the Green Party has had UBI/GLI as part of their platform for many years. Please consider the best way to help ALL Canadians, so no one falls through the cracks of specialised benefits. Thank you for your time.
Although I am not a member of the Liberal party, it is the dominant governing party historically since Canada's inception. While not a member, the Liberal party's policies and political agenda affects me as much as any other Canadian--as do the policies and political manoeuvres of the Conservative party.
Initiatives like Universal Basic Income help stabilize our economy and keep Canadians from being economically vulnerable. UBI would improve our social safety net by providing more security than our existing EI, disability, and OAS programs. UBI has been shown to work, so make the bold choice to commit to the safety and wellbeing of Canadians workers.
Your support for lower-income families, seniors, and individuals and their everyday struggles would help all of us. When people have the means to make healthy food choices, they are healthier, reducing the pressure on our health system.
This is just one outcome.
Although I'm not a Liberal member, I'm still one of the many Canadians you will represent. So I hope you will also listen to us and support Basic Income for a better future.
I believe that basic income should be at the top of the priority list (well, maybe just under 'climate change'). A safety net is needed because of AI and other automation, ongoing assistance must continue for the underemployed and the disabled, and the investment in our children would be both wise and prudent. There will be a greater return on that investment economically and as citizens. Those children will also be voters one day.
I don't usually vote Liberal. I lean a little further left than you folks. However, I do believe that you are the only party who would be able to make basic income happen if you have the political will. If you genuinely have the political will, you have my vote.
am writing to express my full support of a universal basic income. There are so many people that work, sometimes even multiple jobs, and still cannot make ends meet. I also believe in this because of technology advances putting people out of work. My biggest concern is for disabled people, such as myself with autism, that really want to work but have a difficult time doing so. Sometimes we need to work limited hours or find very specific jobs to accomodate our needs. I don't belong to a specific party but the party that is willing to push for this will likely get my vote.
Though I am with the NDP, I wanted to connect on this issue. The efficacy of Universal Basic Income has been proven time and again, and I believe it's our responsibility as a nation to provide people with a reliable means of survival in these changing times.
Even if one's only concern is the cost, we know that UBI ends up being far less expensive than the current overwhelming demands that systemic poverty places on our healthcare systems, food subsidy programs, law enforcement, and more.
I look forward to seeing what can be done with this and, regardless of who wins in the next elections, both provincial and federal, I personally commit to supporting the implementation of UBI.
Please support universal guaranteed income. This would allow so many people a better financial future. They could leave toxic employment, fled domestic violence. Attend post secondary school. Seek therapy without worrying about the cost.
It would help combat high rent, and high cost of goods.
It would make the trickle down economy a reality rather than fiction. It would actually spur the economy by increasing the general public's buying power.
I’m writing because I believe Universal Basic Income (UBI) is something Canada really needs. Life is getting more expensive, and too many people are struggling just to get by. UBI would give people the freedom to focus on improving their lives—whether that’s finding a better job, going back to school, or starting a small business—without constantly worrying about money.
The Ontario Basic Income Pilot showed that when people had financial security, they were healthier, less stressed, and more able to work or study. Research also shows that a national UBI could boost the economy by $80 billion a year and reduce pressure on healthcare and social services. This isn’t just about helping people—it’s about making Canada stronger.
With more jobs becoming unstable due to automation and the gig economy, we need new solutions. UBI is a simple, fair way to make sure no one gets left behind. I really hope you’ll push for this to be part of the Liberal Party’s platform.
I am writing to express my strong support for Basic Income in Canada as a crucial step toward reducing poverty, addressing income inequality, and ensuring financial security for all Canadians. With rising economic uncertainty, a guaranteed basic income would provide stability, improve health outcomes, and allow individuals to pursue education, work, and entrepreneurship.
Past pilot programs, such as the Ontario Basic Income Pilot, demonstrated its positive impact on financial security and community well-being. As a leader in economic policy, I urge you to advocate for Basic Income as a key investment in Canada.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I appreciate your leadership on policies that promote a fair and just future for all Canadians.
In insecure and swiftly changing times, I would implore you to look in depth at the research on the benefits of a guaranteed basic income. Among other benefits, a guaranteed basic income has been shown to encourage and enable retraining, resulting in a workforce whose skills match the needs of the economy.
Please eliminate poverty, prepare the workforce for skill upgrades & give Canadians the dignity they deserve by implementing UNIVERSAL Basic income!!!
We KNOW this is not only great policy, it's also humanitarian and smart economics. Canadians need a floor in which to stand, to educate, to become entrepreneurs, to lead healthier lives, to have families & to prioritize a life well balanced.
I'm hopeful the new wave of politicians will start doing what's best for Canadians.
I would love you to address the possibility of Universal Basic Income and if you'd support it:
It would be LIFE ALTERING for so so many. It would bring so many out of poverty and put so much $ back into our economy. When people are supported with the basics of life - it would raise them up. And a supported person will always always end up bringing benefits to the economy of Canada
Unconditional Basic Income is seed capital for entrepreneurial small businesses. As such, it would increase supply and promote competition which would counteract any tiny inflationary pressures. UBI would stabilize the economy by eliminating poverty. It is well past time to implement a UBI in Canada. Please make it a part of your Liberal platform to help Canada survive pressure from south of the border, and to help Canadians weather these economic storms.
Countless studies reveal that this not only reduces the cost to taxpayers by eliminating the overhead costs required to maintain a web of social supports, but is also more effective than our current social supports at lifting people out of poverty, as the vast majority of recipients use the opportunity to find better paying work, take classes to learn the skills needed to find better paying work, or take the risk of starting a new business.
It also reduces the financial burden on the healthcare system, as the majority of recipients eat healthier, exercise more, and quit or cut back on smoking or drinking.
Basic Income has been studied all over the world and has proven to be an empowering tool to help people to improve their lives and it costs less than other support programs for persons who are living in poverty, paycheque to paycheque or living with a disability.
Ontario was doing a trial before Ford cancelled it just because it was a Liberal initiative. People were going to school to improve their employability with Basic Income and had their world torn apart.
I know this is something that has been made Liberal Party Policy in 2023.
Please commit to making Basic Income a reality!
Considering AI's rapid growth in usage and capabilities, I believe millions of workers will soon be out of work. For that reason principally, I am asking that you strongly consider implementing a basic income policy funded by higher taxes on enterprises considering their profitability would grow exponentially if they can get machines to do most of the work Canadians are currently doing
Please support a Universal Basic Income for Canadians. It is the most cost effective way for providing a social safety net, especially during this time of turbulent change. I see the affects AI integration is already having on people's ability to secure meaningful work, many of my peers that trained for a field that is disappearing are not able to find work and have been out of work for over a year. A Universal Basic Income would mean they could retrain for the jobs of the future and still provide food and shelter for their families. How many Canadians are you going to leave behind, because you believed the lies about a Universal Basic Income making people lazy, when all the research and studies show more people would return to work and our economy would be stronger as a whole! Pledge to support a Universal Basic Income today!
I am writing to you today in support of replacing Canada's disparent and often broken safety net programs with a universal basic income program instead. By providing every Canadian with a universal basic income, we can streamline our delivery of Aid to all Canadians, without the red tape and bureaucracy that often allow people to fall through the cracks because they don't qualify for program a or b or c, and yet there is no program to help them and they end up on the streets or in jail. Universal basic income will practically do away with poverty. It will provide the freedom to individuals to pursue what's important to them in their life. Whether that's going back to school, staying home to raise children, or having the freedom to take a new job without the fear of what happens if it doesn't work. It will allow people to pursue their art, or whatever it is that makes their life better. So many jobs are being taken away by artificial intelligence, and we've only seen the very beginning of it. Child poverty will only get worse if we do not bring in this program. Ubi works.
Dear Sir/Ma'am,
I'm writing to you to ask you to support a Universal Basic Income for all Canadians. More and more, folks are losing their jobs to AI and machines that can work all hours. More and more folks cannot afford to rent a house, let alone buy one. My kids and many others are feeling hopeless, watching both the climate being damaged and the lack of affordable housing. Now with talk of tariffs and the dangers coming out of the USA, food and other necessities have rocketed.
The only way into the future is UBI. Please support a UBI bill and bring Canadians up from the struggle. All Canadians deserve it.
I am an unmarried, childless, bilingual 60-yr-old Canadian woman who started working in this country at 15 years old. For most of my life I have freelanced in the arts and health, and remained very independent. I'm DIY because that's what has come to me, never much money in my fields, but I keep a very small footprint and I've always made the best of my circumstances. I have rarely needed and less often asked for any government assistance. Like so many, I have dealt with family illnesses and my own burnout. But in 2023 I lost 1/3 of my voice acting income due to being replaced by AI, and that work isn't coming back.
My other skills in editing/proofreading/copywriting/tutoring are becoming more redundant by the week due to ChatGPT. AI is steadily replacing administrative jobs, which traditionally have gone to women. Even public cashier jobs have been disappearing, even though they're unsafe for Covid 19. If you read Bill Gates' AI manifesto, you will see that his predictions for jobs that AI can do cheaper, specifically reference administrative jobs.
This is already happening. My work options have narrowed (ageism doesn't help), the cost of living is getting worse, and I am living off meagre savings. My rent has skyrocked and I'll be lucky if I can afford a studio apartment. Of course I understand that I am far from alone in the AI-driven crisis: a better off friend that works in an engineering firm tells me his clients are now asking if their survey work can be replaced by AI. I see no replacement sectors being created out of this, just more human redundancy. This will only get worse, and also for the younger generations coming up.
I wanted to reach out to let you know that I have very real concerns over the future of citizens of Canada and out ability to continue to actually survive the entry of AI into our current job market. The likely catastrophic job losses in particular that are to stem from this is definitively posing a rather significant threat at existensial level.
No job is safe any more. Not even yours.
UBI is a must and hope that whomever leads Canada into the future will be able to realize the importance of the changes that are needed to ensure our continued survival.
As a potential leader of the liberal party, I want to encourage you to strengthen the safety net by providing a universal basic income to Canadians. The spectre of AI technology on the horizon replacing many human jobs requires a deep re-thinking of society and how people can lead meaningful lives and contribute to Canada's culture and well-being.
We are at an interesting junction in history and future generations will judge us by how well we navigate these times and retain our humanity and compassion for all
Please ensure that Livable Basic Income is high on the agenda of your government.
We must prepare Canada for the impact of automation and AI. Both of these will reduce employment opporunites. We must esure that all citizens have a decent chance of enjoying life and live with the dignity of regular income. Most recipents will not be putting their monthly payments into bank accounts. The money will be spent. The resulting increase in sales taxes will contribute to the taxbase.
Basic Income works. The simplifaction/integration of components of existing social safety net can finance the endavour.
With the increase in AI and job automation, and the job losses that are coming wiht it, it is important that everyone has reliable socal safety net. As an animator, I have begun to see parts of my job being done by AI, and the demand for skilled artists go down. Along with the rising cost of living, this is making it more and more difficult to make a decent living in Canada.
UBI benefits everyone. It an issue that is very important to me, and one I look for in any party platform when I decide how I am going to vote. It's time to make it happen.
I am writing to you on behalf of all Canadians threatened by this latest wave of automation in the workplace to ask that you support a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income.
In the past pilot projects in Manitoba and Ontario, evidence has shown that that a basic income is the most effective and efficient way to address the long term social and financial costs of poverty, especially with regards to health and wellbeing, child welfare, and criminal justice.
I am writing you to address support of a basic income in Canada. So many Canadians are barely scraping by, with more than 50% of their income going towards rent and other necessities, and it doesn't seem to be getting easier any time soon with inflation going up, and wages stagnating.
Once AI truly begins to infiltrate the majority of the workforce (I already know people who's jobs it has effected or basically taken over), then a need for a UBI will be inevitable for Canadians to survive.
Canada has a chance to become a world leader by reforming how it addresses poverty and also the new world with AI. There are so many reasons why a UBI could be a huge game changer for not only the residents of Canada, but also the economy... putting money in the hands of people that will need it, and will also be spending it and not hoarding it.
Please be bold, and do the right thing. Change the way that Canadians live and shrink the wealth gap. Make UBI a big part of your policy in 2025 and beyond.
I would like to write to express my support for implementing a universal basic income policy. In the AI era, this is the only way to prevent social conflicts caused by drastic changes, achieve social fairness, and ensure that the benefits of development are shared with ordinary people. I hope that everyone can live in prosperity and good health, with the freedom to fully develop themselves.
with AI and robotics set to play a more prominent role in industry, many more Canadian jobs will be lost. Robots should be charged tax like individuals. A guaranteed income for all Canadians making less than, say 150K, would be a positive step towards a more viable future.
I believe Canada cannot successfully meet the challenges of a modern labour market without a basic income. We are in a time of great transition. Technological job displacement, accelerating globalization, surging gig work, falling entrepreneurship, rising cost of living, and climate change will continue to challenge our communities and exacerbate unforeseen crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic. Our workers, customers, and businesses alike need the confidence and security that only an income guarantee can provide.
I am a university student studying statistics and machine learning. I urge you to prioritize basic income policy. Research demonstrates that basic income has many benefits and little to no drawbacks, provided it is implemented carefully. It is the obvious choice and solution to protect Canadians from the displacing effects of AI and decreased job opportunities.
As AI takes over more jobs, there will be even more challenges, not only for our youth, but for all of us. We need leaders that are caring progressive thinkers who have good foresight and can "think outside the box". It's critical that we support each other and especially our most vulnerable. Everybody deserves to live in dignity.
When you become the leader of the Liberal Party, I encourage you to consider some form of guaranteed basic income for Canadians. A well-planned basic income program can be achievable and affordable. We don't have to reinvent the wheel here as many others have gone before us. Just takes a bit of research.
I know there are so many problems to address in Parliament, but I think making people whole shoulld be a top priority and will prove to be one of your biggest successes.
Thank you for listening to me, and I wish you the very best in your new role!
I'm wirting today in support of univeral basic income. It makes social and economic sense, and as it has been a liberal party policy in the past, it's important that it remains so.
Lifting Canadians out of poverty is good for them and for the economy. It can move Canadians living in poverty, including those with disabilites, towards thriving instead of simply surviing, which is good for all of us.
I am concerned about job loss from AI and basic income will ensure that job or no job, Canadians have a roof over their heads and food on the table.
Studies and trials all over the world have proven how effective UBI. Let's make it universal in Canada.
As we face the AI revolution and the further automation of jobs as well as our second major economic crisis in 5 years, Canadians need to be able to count on a system that will have our backs. Make Basic Income a point of discussion on the campaign trail, in the debates, and in the coming election.
As a bookkeeper, I am already seeing impacts on my job with AI technology being integrated into accounting software, and me losing many hours of paid work doing the data entry.
Please support Basic Income. With the coming changes in AI technologies and job automation, and poverty that still effects so many Canadians including Seniors and people like myself who live with chonic illness and Disability, we need Basic Income.
I am absolutely convinced that our society will crumble into nothing under the weight of all the people losing job to automation, AI, robotics etc. If you make people work without a net, those who fall will not mange to get back up. We are staring down a hunger games future.
Also, we can't allow private entities to own the AI behind all this. It has to be controlled by us all. It boils down to the difference of:
"Oh no, a robot is going to do my job. I might starve" <-- oligarchs and corporations reap the rewards.
-and-
"Yay, a robot is going to do my work now. I am going fishing. <-- people reap the rewards. With basic income in place.
Thanks for taking the time to read this... or does an AI read all of your emails and send you a summary? :)
It's a no-brainer. Guaranteed Basic Income is less expensive than the cost of poverty. What more needs to be said? Every instance of Guaranteed Basic Income has proven beneficial to the economy—it is time for this to be implemented nationally.
I am writing to encourage you to support basic income for all. Numerous pilot projects have vetted the financial soundness and social benefits of universal basic income, including its smaller versions (Canada Disability Benefit, Canada Child Benefit, OAS/GIS).
UBI costs less than poverty.
Thank you for your consideration.
It's time to seriously consider making UBI part of Canada's response to poverty and a host of other social problems including depression, suicide, drug use, sex work, spousal abuse, street crime, homelessness and many others. UBI would practically pay for itself and make the entire country a happier more productive place to live
There are so many pluses to this approach it seems crazy not to implement it immediately. fair taxation would more than cover the cost
Let's do this !
When you are budgetting set aside 3-5% of spending to solve this problem for all Canadians. "A broad-based program in Canada would cost 3-5% of total spending and save us money from the even higher costs of poverty (equal to 13% or more of all spending).
Poverty is already costing the Candian taxpayer. I am one of those who requires such assistance. With a universal basic income, my social assistance could be replaced. Canadians could have enough to live on without worrying about having multiple jobs and working for toxic employers.
Studies have been done and people on social assistance want to feel productive, that they are accomplishing something. I myself am working on a project to help feed and house the less fortunate, all on my own time simply because sitting around enjoying barely getting by on social assistance is no way to live.
Please pledge your support publically and champion the cause for all of Canada, a universal basic income.
Every Canadian has a right to basic human needs. Unfortunately this is not the case for millions of Canadians who are forced to live on very little income, most often inadequately funded social programs. As a taxpayer and Canadian I urge you to support a basic income benefit for all Canadians - the benefits would be far reaching and would ultimately save all Canadians tax dollars, while ensuring that every Canadian lives a dignified and heathy life.
It's time for a Guaranteed Liveable Income in Canada. The current federal government is considering temporary financial relief in the event of tariffs imposed by the American government. What better time to implement a basic income for all Canadians?
The studies have been done, we know a basic income will cost less than the current patchwork of income support programs across the country, and Canadians, especially those on low and fixed incomes, deserve the safety and security of a basic, monthly, liveable income.
Now is the time.
Thank-you for your dedication to serve Canadians.
As you journey through the process of a leadership campaign, I would ask you to consider the following:
Poverty means unmet basic health and housing needs. The suffering that ensues is sufficient reason to act. That suffering increases demands for services and requires increasingly important investment.
Invest up front!
It seems clear that the current arrangement is very expensive - the high cost of poverty mentality, poor diet, poor discipline, poor choices. I wonder what difference the basic income would make. Can it cost us less and actually inspire greater wisdom and well-being in the population?
sincerely wondering,
I'm writing to urge you to prioritize a Universal Basic Income for all Canadians. In a world that is rapidly changing, this safety net is crucial for ensuring that we are all able to meet our basic needs. Additionally, the cost of this endeavour is less than the cost that poverty results in. A heartfelt thank you for taking this into account.
Please make basic income a priority. This seems to me to be the best and fairest way to drastically reduce poverty in Canada. It is my belief that a guaranteed basic income would cost only 3 - 5% of all spending, less than the cost of poverty.
I am a supporter of a guaranteed liveable basic income, and a strengthened social safety net, because I believe all Canadians should have the income security they need to flourish. Emergency pandemic support benefits put in place by the federal liberals provided economic stabiity during a tumultuous time, and many recipients used that money to improve their lives. We also have income floor for children and seniors. It is time to extend these benefits to working age Canadians.
We are facing another incredibly tumultuous time of uncertainty and anxiety, with the threats from our neighbour to the South. Implementing a liveable basic income would be a lifeline for many. It would also signal our concern and care for each other, a 21st century equivalent of our Medicare program. Over the longer term, basic income would pay for itself, and would be much cheaper than the cost of poverty.
The Liberal Party has made basic income official party policy at numerous conventions. Now is the the time to move that into political reality.
Thank you for considering the implementation of this crucial policy issue.
I am deeply concerned about the needs of Canada and Canadians at this time. Too many people are struggling financially, and this impacts their health, their ability to eat a proper meal, their ability to pay rent, their ability to seek the education needed for an adequately paying job.
I call on you to support a policy of Basic Income which would bring relief and hope to many Canadians. I believe it would also benefit Government finances, as those receiving such a Basic Income would be enabled to find work, and be lifted out of poverty, drawing less on Government assistance, and Unemployment Insurance. They would also be healthier mentally, and emotionally, and depend less on Healthcare. It would give them dignity and energy to contribute in many ways to society.
Thank you for giving serious consideration to my recommendation.
Sincerely,
I'm a small business owner and employer, plus a supporter of UBI.
We know it works - let's do it!
Everyone is struggling just to pay for basic necessities. My partner works full time while I am self-employed due to disability. Every year, our rent, groceries, gas, utilities, everything increases. We're both in thousands of debt just to stay alive.
Many homeless people in my city are employed full time. Our rent is nearly 50% of our income alone, before utilities or food. Canadians shouldn't be put in these positions. It took so long to raise minimum wage that the wage pushed for isn't even close to a living wage anymore.
We are barely surviving and many people are in similar or worse positions. Nearly every month we have days, sometimes weeks, where we can barely afford food. We can't enjoy our lives, can't go out for dinner, can't go to a movie, can't make purchases from local businesses or attend local events. The stress of being constantly tight on money also wears down our physical health while doctors are unavailable for months at a time and walk-ins have nearly disappeared.
As automation increases, there are less jobs for less pay and none of this will get better without government intervention. Canadians deserve basic income. Canadians need basic income. We are seeing the conclusions of our captialist system; maximizing profit at the cost of people's lives.
I urge you to push for UBI. The time is now. Please don't stand by while more and more Canadians are left in the cold.
We need to implement Universal Basic Income to ensure that Canadians are not left behind by circumstances beyond their control. I speak this from personal experience, as without the help of others, my wife and I would have been made homeless this past year. I was laid off due to downsizing last May, and other than a brief period at another company which has since ceased operations, have been unemployed. My EI claim has ended. Universal Basic Income would ensure that Canadians can still have access to what they need to survive. We have the ability to make this happen and we need to make this happen.
Universal Basic Income is the logical next step in supporting each other, across the country. Stop judging people for their state of health, financial state, or family needs. Stop spending time and money evaluating those things and just give people options. Research has shown that most will choose to work, some will choose to volunteer, some will focus on family welfare, and some will simply live with dignity.
I want to first congraduate the government for its handeling of the pandemic with the rollout of CERB. It was extremely helpful to me when I was unemployed and helped me find a better job.
Since then, your government has rolled out other support programs. You have demonstrated a willingness to help Canadians. That said, with the growth of gig economy jobs and artificial intelliengence impact on the job market it will be necessarty to fold those programs into a universal basic income UBI.
Numerous studies over decades have proven UBI's effecacy in reduing poverty and increasing the freedom for indiviuals to chose their own paths. It can also reduce government expenditures on health care and policing, stabilize and support local business and markets especially in remote regions, and reduce employee turnover because more people will have the freedome to want to work, rather than have to at a specific company.
If you chose the Ontarion Basic Income pilot project for example the net cost after savings( $32 billion in federal spending) would be approx. $44 billion whilst growing the economy and jobs at the same time.
Finally it would decrease the impact of America's tarriffs, and increase Canada's independance.
I urge you to implement a Universal Basic Income now.
Basic Income is needed in Canada and supports people to live and better themselves. I was outraged when Doug Ford cancelled the pilot project here and left so many people, who were beginning to thrive in the project, in the lurch.
Other Northern European countries have implemented Vasov income with success.
Now more then ever basic income is needed to support Canadians especially in such uncertain times. While you deal with pressing matters internationally please do not forget about the many low income Canadians struggling with the cost of living including myself. I am a well known local visual artist with gallery representation in Ottawa and Oakville and work part time with conservation halton and I am happy in all my work but can't always make ends meet.
thank you for making basic income a priority!
Please consider universal basic income (UBI) as part of your platform. UBI makes good financial sense and moral sense. The research supports it. I see daily the strain on the healthcare system and patients' mental health when they don't have enough to pay rent and buy necessities.
Sincerely,
Ph.D., C. Psych.
Clinical, Health, and Rehabilitation Psychologist
Please Make Basic Income a priority. I would be on the streets if it weren't for my parents. I am a second year university student who has been applying for jobs for over a year straight now. My resume and cover letters are reviewed by two professors, an engineer, and my resume was written with an employment aid service. After two appointments of this advice, the service told me they couldn't help because I was privileged enough to be in school, but no job wants students. I have emailed professors, used job bank websites, LinkedIn, and I'll be going to a job bank next month. I had a job in good service before, but because of my mobility needs I can't do it anymore. I am lucky. I know students who have tried harder for jobs, that may have to drop out because they can't afford to stay alive and do school. Universal Basic Income is a chance for them to survive. Please.
I support guaranteed basic income, because, it will help me live better and create art that contributes to a healthy community, while benefiting my mental health. I am a professional musician, and it's not easy for me to pay rent, grocery bills, and other costs of living in this era. Plus, lifting people like me out of poverty would save money over suffering the consequences of unchecked poverty, because it's expensive for us to be poor, especially when it leads to dealing with preventable health issues. Plus, a better quality of life and social safety net would reduce health expenses of everyone, because prevention of problems is less expensive than patching them over after the fact.
I hope you support guaranteed basic income as well. Our society needs it, especially in these changing times.
I am a business student and accountant, and currently searching for jobs post-graduation. In this economy I cannot afford the same life opportunities as the generations before me. I've done my best to follow "the plan" I was told would allow me these things: graduate highschool, get a degree, find a stable job, buy a house, etc..
I've been told my generation is entitled, lazy, and weak for complaining. Meanwhile both suicide rates and the cost of groceries are higher than ever. So is the disparity between both minimum wage & average yearly wage and the cost of rent, let alone a mortgage. I've been told these things while being told what I was supposed to do to succeed by both previous generations and most media I've grown up with.
My generation is not a failure of the system, the system has failed us. I am not lazy, I am not weak, and my sense of entitlement was granted to me by a lifetime of expectations pushed upon me. The Canadian government has failed its youngest generations, it's time to offer them support.
Very few people are truly leeches on the system, those who are will find a way to do it without UBI. UBI would afford the security blanket needed to maintain mental health, start families, and live following passions, art, volunteering, or starting businesses, for those of us without generational wealth to back us. A supported citizen is a loyal and functioning citizen.
It is crucial that we provide a Basic Income for our fellow Canadians. For so many people, the cost of housing and food is beyond their reach, even with full time employment. Government serves an important role in making sure that no one gets left behind. Please take a principled stand for all Canadians by providing a decent standard of living for all.
Please consider making Livable Basic Income a reality in Canada. I lost my job a year and half ago and have applied to over 1500 jobs since then. I have been homeless the last few months and this has made looking for a job even more difficult. I am now more limited in the jobs I can apply for because I need to be at the homeless shelter before 730pm or I risk losing my bed. I also cannot leave too early as I need to renew my bed ticket between 630am and 1000am. I was in school in 2019 but was unable to continue it due to covid. Every month I worry the money I recieve from income support will be cuttoff and I won't be able to pay for storage and lose everything I own. In the past four months I have lost 45 pounds just eating the food that is available to me at the shelter. On weekdays they have breakfast, lunch and dinner, but I have only attended the lunch once. The lines are very long and cold and provide little food, and very little protien. The reason I don't go to the lunch is time. I usually spend my days at the library looking for work, if I go to lunch; that's my whole day. I spend a lot of time just waiting in lines as it is, heading back downtown for lunch would mean not doing anything else. I hope to get a job, but even then, I would need to work for a few months and save up while living in the shelter to even attempt to move into a place. I sleep in a room with 150 other people and often do not get enough sleep and people are constantly sick. If I can get a job, working it while in the shelter will be very difficult and will likely result in me missing even more meals.
I live in Edmonton and the unemployment rate keeps going up and it keeps getting colder. The colder it gets, the longer I have to wait out in the cold for food or to enter the shelter. When it's colder more people access these services and are less willing to leave and make room for people waiting outside.
Please consider making Livable Basic Income a reality in Canada.
I'm writing to you today to add my voice in support of a universal basic income in Canada.
I am the sole proprietor of my own small business, as well as a performance and visual artist. I benefited immensely from CERB and CRB during the worst of the covid-19 pandemic, and those programs gave me and many other hardworking self-employed creatives a glimpse of what life could be like under basic income; the cost of living became manageable, we were able to support other local businesses while sustaining and growing our own. We were able to buy healthier food and more of it, to help those in need, and to generally care for ourselves and others well during a really tough time. Many of us were able to not only survive but thrive.
Please make universal basic income a part of your party and new leadership's agenda. The benefits have been shown to vastly outweigh the costs, and I hope you can see how building a stable foundation for every Canadian through a basic income program is the only way forward.
As a Canadian, working full time, I should not have to worry about my financial security. I shouldn't have to consider taking on a second job, just to make ends meet. Working full time already takes me away from my family, a second job would basically erase them from my life. And I have a decent job, I work as an Insurance Broker for SGI.
I believe that all Canadians are entitled to financial security. I believe that families should be able to focus on being together and creating memories rather than worrying about paying the bills.
I believe artists and creators should be able to follow their passions! I believe UBI could bring forth a new renaissance.
I believe in Canada.
Although I am a high income earner, I'm writing to express my support for guaranteed basic income for Canadians. Studies have shown that it is a cost-effective way to eradicate poverty, homelessness, and hunger. It would also lead to greater efficiency and simplicity as it can replace numerous social aid services. Most importantly, it would result in a kinder, more caring Canada where everyone is taken care of. In a country as wealthy as ours, nobody should be concerned about hunger or homelessness.
I hope this message finds you well. As an artist and a passionate contributor to Canada’s cultural landscape, I am writing to express my deep belief in the necessity of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) and the transformative impact it could have—not only on individuals like myself but on the very fabric of our society.
Art is not a luxury; it is a cornerstone of any thriving, forward-thinking nation. It shapes our collective identity, sparks critical conversations, and offers solace and inspiration in times of uncertainty. Yet, for too many artists and cultural workers, financial precarity is an unavoidable reality. The unpredictability of our income, the lack of stability in our industry, and the scarcity of public funding make it increasingly difficult to sustain a career dedicated to creative expression.
A Universal Basic Income would be nothing short of life-changing. It would allow artists to create without the constant fear of financial ruin, ensuring that creative voices are not stifled by economic hardship. More importantly, it would enrich Canadian culture as a whole, fostering a society where art is not only preserved but celebrated. By investing in the people who tell our stories, challenge our perspectives, and build bridges between communities, we invest in the very soul of this country.
Countries that prioritize the arts are stronger, more empathetic, and more innovative. If we want Canada to be a leader in culture, in creativity, and in progress, we must recognize that a sustainable life for artists is not a privilege—it is a necessity. Universal Basic Income would provide that foundation, ensuring that the next generation of Canadian artists can thrive, rather than merely survive.
I urge you to champion this cause and recognize the profound impact it could have on individuals and on Canada as a whole. Thank you for your time and for your dedication to building a country that values its artists as much as its industries.
As someone who has been actively searching for employment, I have experienced firsthand how difficult it is to secure stable, well-paying work or any job at all. Despite my skills and dedication, opportunities are scarce, and the cost of living continues to rise. I have seen friends and countless others in my community struggle to make ends meet -hardworking individuals who, despite their efforts, cannot afford even the basics of food, rent, and transportation.
The job market is increasingly unstable, and many people are forced into precarious work that does not provide a living wage. In these tough economic times, a guaranteed basic income would not only offer financial security but also give people the freedom to seek meaningful employment, further their education, or start businesses without the constant fear of falling into poverty.
Basic income is not just a temporary solution -it is a necessary step toward a more equitable and resilient Canada. I urge you to take a stand and make this a key part of your platform. People need real solutions, and basic income can be a game-changer for millions.
I am contacting you from Regina, Saskatchewan on the topic of Universal Basic Income. I believe this is a policy that Canada's future leader and current leading party should implement.
Universal Basic Income, or UBI, is a simple and effective solution to poverty. Instead of making programs for people under certain income levels and then paying government workers to sort through applications to ensure only the "right" people get the benefits, UBI can save money by giving to everyone equally.
UBI would also go a long way to assisting those who are out of work due to rising automation. We're entering an age in human history where not everyone needs to work, and our government needs to make sure our citizens aren't left behind for the sake of big companies.
Employed people also benefit from UBI. Not only will they have more disposable income, but they will have greater freedom to leave their job and greater freedom to go on strike and form unions which can protect workers from big buisnesses.
Please help make Canada better for all Canadians. Make Universal Basic Income a priority.
I'm writing to request that you support a Guranteed Livable Basic Income (GLBI) for all Canadians. We have a duty to ensure all Canadians are able to afford to live a decent life with shelter and quality food.
GLBIs have not reduced the people's productivity or the amount they work. In fact it could increase the workforce by eliminating the current welfare trap. Since people lose welfare when they get a job, they would make the same money for working more under the current system. Additionally, studies have found that a GLBI could reduce the federal government's spending on poverty.
Your party has made a GLBI part of your official policies, now it's time to follow through.
Dear Candidates, As someone directly involved in our community through the Children's Aid Society, I have witnessed firsthand the profound impact that additional funding and resources can have on individuals and families striving to overcome poverty.
The work we do with children and families highlights the critical importance of financial stability, and the role it plays in breaking cycles of poverty. We see how targeted investments, such as funding for essential services, housing, and educational support, can empower people to move beyond their current circumstances and achieve long-term success. It is my firm belief that a Universal Basic Income could provide similar transformative opportunities for all citizens, particularly those facing economic hardship.
I am very much a supporter of Basic Income. As a resident of Lindsay Ontario, I witnessed the benefits during the pilot project that was carried out here before the pandemic. There's no question that it had a very positive impact on the lives of those involved. I was deeply disappointed when it was ended by Doug Ford's provincial government.
Thank you for giving this issue serious consideration.
I am writing to encourage you and the Liberal Party to make the establishment of a broad-based guaranteed basic income program a priority. I believe very strongly that the establishment of a basic income program would go a long way in providing the social safety net that we require in Canada. Having lived and worked in Manitoba in the Dauphin area at the time of the Mincome (Manitoba Basic Annual Income Experiment) in the mid 1970s I saw first hand the benefits of such a basic income program.
I believe that we are at a critical juncture in Canada where the need for such a basic income program has become even more evident. The Liberal party is uniquely positioned to move forward with this very important initiative.
I'm a retired family doctor. I noticed in the office when Lindsay had Basic Income that patients were more content, we're able to do more things they wanted and needed to do AND I they did not come into the office as frequently.
I am writing to you to find out where you stand in relationship to a policy that is dear to my heart. I have been involved in food security work for over 25 years and it pains me dearly to see the continuous rising level of food insecurity within my community and beyond. Research clearly points out that food charity isn't the solution, people need more income. Researchers from UoT have clearly illustrated that in addition to raising minimum wage to a living wage, implemented a Liveable Basic Income Guarantee designed to meet people's basic needs is an essential policy needed to address food insecurity.
Your government has sent mixed messages regarding this kind of policy. While raising the rates of the Canada Child Benefit has had a postive impact on reducing the level of poverty among families, the promises around the Canada Disability Benefit have indicated a lack of willingness in supporting people who live with a disability.
If you became Prime Minister, what would you do to ensure that vulnerable community members, be they children or adults, are able to eat the healthy food they need to thrive in a dignified manner?
Re: Guaranteed Basic Livable Income
Thank you for your willingness to run for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada, and listening to what is important to voters in the next Federal election.
I see economic stability for impoverished, low, and medium income Canadians as the most critical issue, combined with strong action on climate response.
The burgeoning cost of living has unsettled even previously stable renting households, let alone people now completely unable to maintain anything close to a healthy life for themselves and their family. This has economic costs rising for all of society. I believe it is time to get serious about establishing a guaranteed basic livable income to provide the security people need to stabilize and become their most productive selves. Food banks are not the answer. There is not a lack of food, there is a lack of reliable income.
Please make a sincere promise to support a serious parliamentary study of how a Guaranteed Basic Livable Income could be implemented, including the evidence of previous experiments, and support for the current PEI joint provincial/federal demonstration project Basic Income Guarantee (BIG).
Thank you!
A guaranteed liveable basic income is the single greatest policy for alleviating food insecurity in Canada.
We do need more non-market / deeply affordabke housing for the most marginalized and vulnerable - but building housing will always be playing in and around the margins of poverty - alleviating economic pressures for some, but only ever a few (while many are left to suffer in deep poverty).
An basic income floor, so that no one in Canada can fall the below the poverty line, is an indispensible and essential policy for creating a more equitable Canada without poverty.
I urge you to include a guaranteed liveable basic income in your leadership policy platform to let Canadians know that you really care about those who are stuggling the most.
Canada is in the midst of a growing homelessness crisis. The numbers of those living in temporary shelter with friends or family, in city shelters or in encampments on the streets has exploded over the last two years. Municipalities have been left to try to cope with the problem, but do not have the financial means to do so. I say this from my personal experience as a warden in an Anglican church with a food bank that has seen the number of families accessing it triple since the pandemic. Many of those clients are working people who can't afford to keep a roof over their families heads and feed them. They are also on the verge of losing their homes and are frightened.
I also am supporting street people in Parkdale, whose numbers keep growing. Many have physical and mental health issues. These folks are unable to work and are suffering mightily without the ability to care for themselves. We are in a crisis that requires new solutions.
Please institute a basic income, preferably financed by implementing a land-value tax — a tax that helps reduce unnatural wealth inequality.
Many thanks,
Please activate a basic income now in Canada so we can support each other and stand strong together against the tariffs in these trying economic times
A similar program the Alaska permanent fund from oil sales started by republican governor Jay Hammond has been in place for 40 years now and they might help us to know how to start a citizens dividend in Canada
The Commonwealth Canada website has more resources also
It would be the most efficient defence and best way forward at this time
Canada should implement a guaranteed annual income to make sure every citizen has a life of dignity. A guaranteed income should be funded out of economic rent capture, not be funded by taxing working people or businesses.
We need to finally put an end to homelessness and poverty in this great country of ours.
The best way to do that is by replacing taxing labour with land value tax and universal basic income.
When people are not living in poverty, it not only helps them but also local businesses and reduces the burden on our healthcare system.
I am very much in favour of a guaranteed annual income for Canadians. We all own the resources of this country and could all benefit from those resources in the form of a dividend.
Guaranteed basic income tackles poverty by targeting cash to those in need. We already have a working examples in seniors and child benefits—this just expands the model to help more people. A broad-based program in Canada would cost 3-5% of total spending and save us money from the even higher costs of poverty (equal to 13% or more of all spending).
In contrast, a universal basic income that goes to everyone is most viable as a dividend from a common fund or resource, like Alaska’s oil dividend to every resident. In Canada, the excess profits from natural resources could generate a dividend of $7,500/year per adult.
Guaranteed basic income and universal dividends can work in tandem to provide economic security for all and allow everyone to share in the value of nature and technological progress.
Please ensure to include UBI as part of your campaign platform and should you win the nomination, press full speed ahead to make it a part of the Canadian society and economy.
I am writing to request bold changes to our tax and monetary policies to strengthen our economic future. I urge you to eliminate income tax and replace it with a land value tax, which would distribute the tax burden more fairly and incentivize efficient use of land. I also ask you to implement a universal basic income to ensure a safety net for all citizens and support individual freedom. I believe these reforms will foster a more resilient economy and better serve the interests of all Canadians.
To All, UBI works and we will all be better off.
I believe basic income is hugely important and is part of upholding our values as Canadians. I thank you for your time and consideration of including basic in your agenda.
I believe guaranteed basic income would give dignity to people who have no choice of being in the workforce due to disability. I believe that basic guaranteed income would give a boost to single mothers and fathers and would give a hand to the working poor as well as give an option to people on welfare to get ahead, to have money for work clothes to have money for reeducation to have money to buy food and pay rent. I believe thatguaranteed basic income is the right thing to do to support our most vulnerable people And to give dignity and purpose to all.
I watched Star Trek with my dad all through my childhood and on Star Trek no one goes hungry on earth. No one suffers the indignity of begging for food at a food bank no one is sick because they can't go to the doctor or pay for their medication. Everyone deserves the right to be treated as human beings. Let's make our country like Star Trek.
To the Liberal leadership candidates,
If we have any sense of the common good, then a guaranteed basic income must be part of your vision.
We are a wealthy country that can easily afford a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income.
It's time the Liberal Party achieved grander programs; what could be bugger than ending poverty ?
Please Pledge to implement the GLBI and be remembered as the PM who ended poverty in Canada 🇨🇦
i truly belive that Basic Income is needed for the continued growth and success of our country. When people have just a little bit of financial security they can sleep better and stress less, focusing on goals and duties that can make them more productive.
Thanks so much for running: it takes heart and soul to make such a decision. I am writing to ask you seriously consider a strong position on UBI. It will make such a difference in our country and in the lives of many.
Canadians need help! Years of watching other countries being given massive grants/subsidies have left me amazed at the amount of money we, as a country feel is OK to spend on people other than ourselves. Charity is great, but how about if we look after our own backyard first for a change.
I'm personally on the very verge of giving up. Cost of living, low job rates, lack of support for people in my position have all pushed me to the brink over the last few years. UBI is really the only vestige of hope I see that would be able to pull me back from the cliff.
I hope that you as politicians would be able to understand the fear and dread that so many low income people are experiencing and would find it in yourself to support an initiative like UBI that would be literally a lifeline to many people.
As an anonymous nobody in the Canadian populace, struggling terribly in life, please incorporate, and implement, a basic income as a genuine priority within your respective campaign.
There are legions of people struggling to even find basic, entry level work. Parties of all stripes seem content to prostrate themselves to the whims of a ruthless, capricious business lobby that abuses the LMIA process in order to import cheap foreign labour -- all while Canadians are struggling to find even the most basic of positions. Any 'retraining' programs are poorly implemented, locked behind byzantine rules, regulations, and processes and are thus incredibly difficult to access, which runs counter to the very point of said programs -- to get willing people retrained from the ground up and ready for future, promising work in technology and sustainable, emergent 'green' industries.
I have spiralled into depression as a result of my very long term unemployed status. There is no future for me as things stand. So I write now with very real desperation, and an abiding sadness -- please, whatever care you profess to having for the Canadian people, please... implement a basic income. If you care at all for the welfare of struggling souls in this country, if the words you say are not simply empty platitudes, you will make basic income a real, genuine priority -- especially in the face of the nascent, rapidly developing threat of AI.
Thank you to the staff who took the time to read this. I hope, against hope, that the earnest message here will be passed on.
UBI is an important step towards improving the lives of our most vulnerable citizens and help each person move towards their potential and becoming or continuing to be a valable societal earner. It's time to stop starving populations that need you most.
The implementation of UBI would mean improvements in stress, mental health, physical health, housing, education, and employment.
UBI will foster greater freedom while helping us tackle the worsening crises of inequality, climate change, and authoritarian populism. It will make it possible for everyone to live in dignity rather than with the constant stress of feeling excluded from society.
It will moreover rid us of the humiliation of having to ask for help for help (welfare). Yes, it is a humiliating, marginalizing and dehumanizing process.
UBI now.
All the studies into UBI show its benefits, and disprove the fears commonly expressed. We know that it works! UBI would form the stable base of our safety net that would truly ensure that Canadian citizens don't live in poverty and are able to achieve their true potential!
It is high time we bring in a Universal Basic Income and I am asking you to consider it and then make it a reality for Canadians. The people need help. I know you can do what will truly help the people. We are watching, and we are in need. Universal Basic Income - NOW. No more failed tests at this, half-hearted attempts, or lollygagging. The time is now. We are counting on you. Thank you.
Thank you for running for leader of the liberal party.
I urge you to make Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) a core policy if you become leader. Economic instability, automation, and outdated social programs leave too many Canadians struggling. A targeted, income-tested GBI would reduce poverty, improve health, and empower people to participate fully in the economy.
Like Medicare and the Canada Child Benefit, GBI can be a transformative policy that simplifies our social safety net while fostering dignity, independence, and entrepreneurship.
As a Liberal leader, you have the opportunity to champion bold, forward-thinking solutions. Will you commit to making GBI a priority? I look forward to your response.
I've seen first hand how lack of basic living income / income inequality has led to people being stuck in abusive or exploitative living and working situations. Even temporary help would help many people to leave these situations and build up a safety net for themselves.
I know first hand the challenge to pull myself and my family out of poverty as a result of a familial neuromuscular disease with no treatment or cure. It affects 75% of my family. The disease starts affecting our body as young as 21 years of age. Meanwhile our parents are quadriplegics in the last stages of the disease. It affects our ability to work and continue post secondary education. As a result, my family has endured generations of poverty that I do not wish on anybody.
A Universal Basic Income is MUST now and for the future - literally. I am watching the younger generations give up hope; no housing, no children, no future. A minimum wage is NOT enough in this day and age to fulfill even BASIC needs, let alone save for the future. If someone on UBI can then go to school and later obtain a better job or start a business, it is simply obvious to me that Canada will benefit in the long run.
Almost every person I know has watched over the last 20 years as our collective dreams of financial independence have faded away.
The gap between the working class and the richest one percent has grown continually and relentlessly for us, young adult Canadian citizens in our late twenties and early thirties.
Guaranteed basic income is a proven and effective tactic to strengthen the economy and create a safety net to keep people from falling through the cracks. Just today my brother, who is on disability and lives with me at a reduced rate, had to pick and choose his groceries and wound up with four dollars in his chequings account.
I urge you to try and imagine all of the people with mere dollars, or mere hundreds of dollars in their accounts, while grocery costs rise, Canadian land moves more into the hands of wealthy barons who want to flip properties for higher and higher costs or rent them at unreasonable rates.
I urge you to imagine never having the opportunity to own land or be certain about a simple purchase such as this week's vegetables.
Act on universal basic income. Make Canadian history. Take us in a new and bold direction. Please.
Canadians are facing a polycrisis and many think government is not listening or doesn’t care. They need practical help and hope, not despair. Governments can and must support the innovation, ingenuity and dynamism of individuals in their families and communities. People know what the solutions are, what they lack is capacity. No one is self-sufficient; we are all interdependent. Scarcity is a myth. As you have written, it is a matter of values.
We are seeking your support for better, fairer, income security for everyone by building on what has proven to work. Investing in the capacity of regular people to meet their basic needs means they can be more productive in their market and non-market work. They can better contribute to solutions to much of what ails us, and costs us dearly. Spending in perpetual crisis mode is both more expensive and ineffective. It stifles genuine progress.
The best ethical and economic solution is to increase Canada's safety net with UBI. Studies show the positive impact on health, happiness, crime, education...there really are no downsides to UBI, unless you believe Canadians should not be empowered and prosperous.
Please show you will be a leader for all Canadians by putting your power into legislating UBI.
universal basic income offer support to women, expecially those who suffer men's violence against women or domestic violence. Financial abuse is often at the heart of their inability to leave ther abusive marriages, and care for and remove their children from abusive family situations. A guaranteed livable income would make it possble for women to leave when they need to leave, and not just when it is financially possible.
The time has come for Universal Basic Income! After listening to even Brian Mulroney (before he died) speak eloquently about the benefits of UBI, not the least of which is saving government money in addition to giving Canadians stability and opportunity to retrain in a changing world, it's clear that UBI is the way to go and I'd like to be able to count on a Liberal PM to make it happen. It's time for UBI!
With automation and artificial intelligence eating up jobs, the need for a true social safety net looms larger than ever before. A useful basic income for all Canadians is the answer. Studies have shown that it doesn't decrease employment but rather gives people a buffer when circumstances beyond their control have a severely negative impact on their lives. It can give artists time to create and entrepreneurs space to innovate.
Most importantly, it could streamline government operations and reduce costs without impacting service levels. A true basic income system could replace unemployment insurance, welfare and disability programs. Great savings would be realized by reducing duplication of effort and eliminating costly compliance enforcement programs. There would be no need to determine if a disability qualifies, if a person has been terminated in a way that makes them eligible for unemployment. The only question that would need to be asked is, "Are you a Canadian citizen?" If the answer is yes, the disbursement is approved.
Think about it. This would put Canada at the forefront of social policy for the next decade or more. We've already done what was claimed to be impossible -- a federal legalization of cannabis. Why not keep up the momentum?
I am a comfortably retired Canadian who is concerned about my fellow Canadians who are not comfortable. Whether it's food insecurity, housing insecurity, under-employment, the cost of higher education, or medical expenses not covered by Medicare, the obvious solution is a guaranteed basic income.
Don't assume that it is impractical or unaffordable. Instead, look at the evidence from the numerous successful pilot projects from across Canada and around the world.
Please commit to supporting the implementation of a guaranteed basic income.
I knew several people who were part of the Ontario UBI test project (cancelled of course by Dougie) whose lives were so much better with even that small increase in income. One disabled friend was able to get better assistive devices which alleviated here pain, another friend was able to sign up for courses to improve her scholastic record with hopes of a better job. These seem to be small things but huge in the lives of those helped.
UBI should be universal as it says and coupled with much increased social housing like the sort Indwell builds.
Our world is changing rapidly. Our government needs to adapt to those changes and ensure that people don't fall through the cracks.
I've lost track of how many emails I've written like this. There's so much need for basic income now. I'd love to see it in within my lifetime, my parents' lifetime, my grandfather (he's 91 in less than a month)'s lifetime. I want my nephews (3 and 5) to grow up being able to enjoy life to the fullest. I want all of us to experience that so that we can reach our true potential not only as individuals but as Canadians.
Please, I'm tired of the talks just going 'round and 'round. I even spoke with my local MHA in person about it last fall. We need basic income NOW.
You CANNOT CONTROL INFLATION.
You CANNOT FIX DECADES of LOW WAGES.
You CANNOT REDUCE UNSUSTAINABLE RENTS.
You CANNOT STOP the TARIFF WARS.
YOU CAN EMBRACE UBI.
UBI is the ONLY SOLUTION to impending RAMPANT POVERTY.
Please SUPPORT UBI!
I am writing to advocate for Universal Basic Income (UBI) as a transformative solution to several pressing societal challenges. Many social and economic issues—including crime, poverty, and fraud, illnesses, depression—are fundamentally linked to financial insecurity and the inability to meet basic needs. A well-implemented UBI program could address these challenges at their root.
In my community work, I regularly interact with individuals facing various challenges, including those managing trauma, neurodivergent conditions, and economic hardship. These community members possess valuable skills and potential that often remain untapped due to systemic barriers. While they could contribute meaningfully to our society, traditional employment structures frequently fail to accommodate their unique circumstances and abilities.
By ensuring that all citizens can meet their basic needs, UBI would not only reduce social problems but also unlock the potential of these underutilized human resources. This would allow individuals to pursue meaningful work and contribute to society in ways that align with their capabilities, ultimately benefiting our entire community.Unlike targeted welfare programs, UBI offers a streamlined and dignified approach to economic security. Traditional assistance programs often create bureaucratic hurdles, stigmatize recipients, and can inadvertently trap people in poverty through complex eligibility requirements and benefit cliffs. UBI eliminates these administrative complexities while ensuring that no one falls through the cracks of means-tested systems. By providing a universal floor of economic stability, it creates a level playing field where everyone can participate in society without the fear of losing essential support when trying to improve their situation.
Now is the time for real leadership in Canada. Leadership for all Canadians, especially those living in poverty. Please prioritize a Universal Basic Income for Canada so we can lift our fellow citizens out of what amounts to a death sentence by policy. We have more than enough evidence that a UBI would work here not only for those living in poverty but also for women and children escaping domestic violence. For disabled individuals who deserve to live with dignity. If we had a UBI in Canada now, a major international superpower could not effectively threaten our people with economic warfare. It is the right thing to do and I call upon you to take action on a universal basic income for all Canadians.
Please help Canadians reach their full potential, have stability, and opportunity to lead full lives worth living.
Whole generations are suffering with zero quality of life.
Please show us there's hope.
I am writing as a senior Canadian in support of a Basic Income for myself and all other Canadians who are living on or below the poverty line in this country we love and call home.
I grew up in poverty. I know the paralyzing and hopeless impact it had on my mother and our early life. I have worked hard my entire life to climb out of it, for many years as a single mother of 3 children. In my 60’s I took a remote camp job doing housekeeping to save enough for a downpayment on a home, only to see that possibility slip through my fingers with rising real estate costs. Today I pay almost $1500 in rent out of a $2100 combined pension, and I see that my children have little hope of ever owning their own home. I see people sleeping in their cars and on the street in my small town, and am shocked and so saddened that this is our new landscape.
Please consider the Basic Income Bill. It is within your power to make this happen - for us, for our children, and for all of Canada.
I'm writing to ask you to support the creation of a Guaranteed Livable Income, and to make that a priority in your platform.
A GLI (another way of saying basic income) is a proven method of lifting people out of poverty (something desperately needed by too many Canadians across the country). Trial GLIs run in Manitoba and Ontario worked, and PEI has advocated for a trial to be run across the province (to show how it can be implemented nation-wide).
I'm part of the United Church of Canada's national network on Guaranteed Livable Income, and we've held vigils and met with politicans right across the country to share support for a GLI. (The UCC has been fighting this fight since the 1970s). You can find more info on that network here: https://united-church.ca/social-action/act-now/create-guaranteed-livable-income-program.
This is a tangible, tenable way to postiviely impact generations of Canadians. Please, use your platform to speak up for a GLI and those who would benefit most from it.
I'm writing to urge you to support guaranteed basic income. It would be a huge step for human dignity to ensure that people can afford food and shelter even if bad luck strikes them. I'm 39 years old and chronic illness has robbed me of my ability to work, so I often worry for my future. I also worry for the well-being of those less fortunate than myself: the homeless people in my community, who clearly need a helping hand to reach a more stable place in life.
MP Julie Dzerowicz showed good initiative by introducing a Private Member's Bill on this topic. I hope you will consider joining the effort to build framework for guaranteed basic income. This would be a huge quality-of-life improvement for so many Canadians. Thank you for your time.
For too much of human history, our species has been divided into extreme "haves" and extreme "have nots."
Canada can lead the world in becoming a "doughnut economy" -- no one too poor or too rich, everyone in the broad middle. No one living with the indignity and insecurity of poverty. Everyone can reap the benefits of their labour, but not to the extent that it damages the lives of everyone else or gives them the power to corrupt democracy.
We need a Guaranteed Basic Income to moderate the imbalances that cause social, economic, and political instability. We need a GBI to make sure the benefits of technological progress and productivity are shared with everyone, and do not create more unemployment, inequality, and poverty.
.svg)
.svg)
To shift the conversation about basic income to recognize it as an economic need and economic opportunity, with the goal of seeing UBI implemented in Canada.
We want a Canada where everyone can pursue their potential and not be held back by basic material constraints or unsafe environments.
Sign up to become a Backer & Believer of Basic Income! Receive news and updates about UBI Works straight to your inbox.
