{"id":92882,"date":"2015-07-09T12:59:00","date_gmt":"2015-07-09T12:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/peiwgli.com\/?p=92882"},"modified":"2024-10-27T14:49:53","modified_gmt":"2024-10-27T14:49:53","slug":"pei-politicians-join-calgary-and-edmonton-mayors-to-back-big","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peiwgli.com\/?p=92882","title":{"rendered":"PEI Politicians: Join Calgary and Edmonton Mayors to Back BIG!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Following support for a basic income guarantee from the mayors of Calgary and Edmonton, the P.E.I. Campaign for a Basic Income Guarantee (C-BIG) is calling on the Province to commit to a P.E.I.-based basic income guarantee pilot project as part of the poverty reduction strategy promised in the recent Speech from the Throne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calgary\u2019s Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Edmonton\u2019s Mayor Don Iveson told reporters in June that they would support a basic income guarantee in principle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDuring the recent P.E.I. election campaign, we were thrilled that the leaders of all four political parties endorsed the basic income guarantee as a strategy to reduce and eliminate poverty,\u201d says Cooper Institute member Ann Wheatley, a C-BIG proponent. \u201cWith momentum building in the country for a basic income guarantee, P.E.I. could lead the charge by adopting this policy that would make a real difference in the lives of people with low incomes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A basic income guarantee \u2014 also known as \u201cguaranteed annual income\u201d or \u201cmincome\u201d \u2014 is a system where all adults living below the poverty line would receive a benefit to bring them up to livable income amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUndoubtedly, Mayors Nenshi and Iveson see the potential benefits that a basic income guarantee could bring to recipients \u2013 benefits that would quickly spread through an entire city or province,\u201d says Wheatley. \u201cThese would include financial benefits to local businesses and significant benefits to the overall health of citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2011, it was estimated that 13% of P.E.I.\u2019s population were living with low income. Two-thirds of Islanders with income from work \u2013 about 63% \u2013 make under $30,000\/year, and 39% of the population makes less than $20,000\/year. In the past two years, the Campaign for a Basic Income has worked with Islanders in a half-dozen public workshops in communities across the province to propose a model that would work well for Islanders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to Edmonton and Calgary, a basic income guarantee is also under consideration in countries such as Switzerland and Namibia, and has seen models established in places such as Netherlands, India, Brazil and Alaska.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA basic income guarantee would ensure that every Prince Edward Islander would receive enough income to meet their basic needs,\u201d says Wheatley. \u201cIt\u2019s a straightforward policy that would make an immensely valuable investment in Islanders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information on the the P.E.I. Campaign for a Basic Income Guarantee, visit http:\/\/cbigpei.wix.com\/c-big-pei.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For more information:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ann Wheatley
Campaign for a Basic Income Guarantee (C-BIG)
c\/o Cooper Institute Voluntary Resource Centre
81 Prince Street, Charlottetown PE C1A 4R3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tel: 902-894-4573
cooperinstitute@eastlink.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Links<\/h3>\n\n\n\n