BIG Community Forum – Rustico

Participants:

Animators:

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1.    Goal and Objectives of the Forum:

Forum Goal

• to strengthen our plan for a BIG pilot project and to explore ways in which people can become involved.

Forum Objectives

• to present information about BIG
• to hear from people what they think of the idea of BIG & what kind of benefit they think it may have to their communities
• to identify concerns/fears would be around BIG
• to gather ideas about how to promote the idea/increase understanding/engage people in their communities

The forum in Rustico took place in both official languages, with thanks to Natalie Pendergast for translation support.

Questions and Comments

Following a presentation about poverty in PEI and BIG possibilities

• Why basic income instead of fixing the existing systems?
• BIG could help eliminating disincentives to work and earnings
• BIG will transform ideas about income
• BIG offers more dignity, freedom, choices
• Are we talking about replacing existing programs? If so, which ones?
• BIG will change the culture and the way we think about prosperity
• BIG will reduce suffering of our neighbours
• Need new solutions when social assistance is in surplus while people are visibly suffering
• BIG will offer access to activities (social inclusion and participation)
• The income tax system is not fair now – with breaks for corporations and the wealthy while people in low income still pay taxes
• BIG will mean more people warm, fed, looked after
• Models and systems in other countries, even less rich countries, work to support people (participant shared examples from the Netherlands)
• The systems here are unbelievable
• We have seasonal work and a seasonal place in PEI
• Access to work is complex
• When people are sick, they are not paid and the supports are not adequate
• People pay taxes to support benefits for the collective good
• Vacation time is not properly valued here, and neither is work

BENEFITS OF BIG (from small-group discussion)

• BIG could eliminate food insecurity
• Increase productivity, decrease stress
• Better education outcomes (less stress at home = better ability to learn = HOPE)

• It would be easier to manage BIG (from an administrative viewpoint) if it applies to everyone
• No need to decide who receives assistance
• Convincing government with the wisdom of the community: why propose a pilot of 1,000 and how to choose? Preference for an all-Island pilot, supported by “la grand voix” from the people
• Help local economy = volunteers, artists, food producers, more freedom
• Reason for young people to stay – more choice
• Stability for people
• Less energy on where to find the next meal = more productivity
• Less burden on health system (physical and mental health)
• Children’s health will be better in households with enough income = lifetime effects for children as they grow to adulthood
• Poverty is hard on small business community and the economy
• BIG could encourage an increased birth rate and less delayed maternity
• Flexibility for caregiving to children and elders
• With BIG, people might not choose between medication and food, so there might be lower health costs
• People with more ability to participate in local Island culture (music, activities)
• Build in indexing in BIG
• Babies! more babies to revitalize families and communities
• Concern about division in communities if there is a pilot of 1,000: Why not aim for 19,000 out of poverty?
• A pilot with a cross-section of society would have a better chance of uptake by government
• Five years might not be long enough for a pilot to see health and education benefits

Next steps (from full-group discussion)

• Start identifying MLA advocates in the provincial legislature willing to be assertive and to continue following up (private members’ bills, questions in the legislature, etc.)
• Gather relevant facts, evidence (Dauphin MINCOME example), surveys
• Lay out the case in a simple way
• Benefit from Dr. Forget’s findings and bring them to the public and the government
• There’s NO BETTER PLACE than PEI for a pilot project (right scale, right infrastructure and institutions)
• Tap a foundation for money for the C-BIG Campaign
• Reach out to service clubs to give presentations to them (change mindsets)
• One small group also added:
  • Social justice and human rights connections and perspectives
  • Prove that BIG reduces crime
  • Help people see personal benefit and the benefit to the community
  • People need to see the economic benefit to society

Evaluations

This evening I liked…

• the video documentary on poverty.
• great discussion, great group!
• the discussion by groups
• participation by most present
• very informative opinions were expressed well
• the openness of the group
• how everyone had a passionate perspective
• the round table approach
• the opportunity to discuss this very important topic
• discussion was welcomed and information was well presented
• the concept as proposed in the the basic income guarantee
• discussion of varied ideas
• ability to ask questions in non-threatening atmosphere
• knowledge and passion of facilitators
• short but sweet
• the openness of the people by sharing their thoughts
• I really liked the discussion and the topic. (TR)
• I have the soul of an artist and I would like to be able to choose my way of life, but more importantly, I find it unacceptable that we’re not capable in our “evolved” society to take care of people who are poor. (TR)
• the positive discussions and attitudes
• the small groups
• “la rencontre bilingue”

This evening I learned…

• that many are supportive of this concept.
• about the Netherlands approach [to supporting citizens]
• the difference between different forms of support
• more information why basic income is important
• about different options for restructuring how we take care of our people
• more about C-BIG and the proposed pilot project for PEI
• added to my own thoughts about guaranteed annual income
• some other ways of looking at the same thing
• greater appreciation for certain benefits of BIG (arts and culture community/industry)
• that this project is still at the beginning stage
• that the goal must not be only to save expenses but to improve lives (TR)
• how BIG would work

I would like to know more about…

• how you could actually set it up
• other studies based on this idea
• how to convince the government to give C-BIG a chance
• the model – I’m interested in helping out on the committee if you need more people
• I would like to be kept informed
• data from other studies
• results of Dr. Forget’s work
• more details of current BIG proposal
• the outcome at the end
• how to influence governments to come into the program

For another time, let’s:

• get more community participation
• more time for discussion
• have more time for discussion
• make arguments for why all 19,000 poor people in PEI should be part of the pilot project
• expand the contact list to include service groups and churches to increase awareness
• more public presentations to enlist ambassadors/advocates
• might be good to articulate some of the problems with the current system (i.e., tax benefits/refunds etc only go do benefit those who least need it) both at the provincial level and federal level
• have a longer session
• involve MLAs, etc.
• contact local service groups to come out to meetings