WHEREAS, a Basic Income Guarantee program for people over the age of 17 in Canada would meet basic human needs by ensuring the security of a minimum income level, regardless of employment status;
AND WHEREAS, a Basic Income Guarantee program would help to reduce poverty and improve income security in Canada and address the related negative social and economic impacts on the health of our most vulnerable populations;
AND WHEREAS, income-based policy measures are necessary to effectively reduce household food insecurity, which is associated with many negative physical and mental health outcomes, and is experienced by 1 in 7 households in Ottawa (as outlined in a report received at the November 2023 Ottawa Board of Health meeting);
AND WHEREAS, a Basic Income Guarantee program can complement existing social support systems in Canada, in the form of longstanding programs like the Canada Child Benefit and the Guaranteed Income Supplement for seniors, which have demonstrated positive impacts on basic income recipients, economies, and our greater society;
AND WHEREAS, the Ontario Basic Income Pilot project, that was tested in the Hamilton area, Thunder Bay area and Lindsay between 2017 and 2019, saw 4,000 eligible applicants receive basic income and report positive outcomes, including the alleviation of food and housing insecurity, improved physical and mental health, financial stability, social equity and increased access to employment opportunities;
AND WHEREAS, Bill S-233, An Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income was referred to and currently being considered by the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance after passing second reading in April 2023;
AND WHEREAS Bill C-223, An Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income was read a second time and remains in the Order of Precedence in the House of Commons after an initial debate in May 2024;
AND WHEREAS, the call for a Basic Income Guarantee program in Canada is being made by many other municipalities in Ontario and beyond;
AND WHEREAS, a Basic Income Guarantee program would align with public health priorities, including to seek to address negative impacts of poverty and improve access to healthcare and potentially reduce healthcare costs, enabling people to afford preventive care and timely treatments while preventing more costly healthcare interventions, leading to better overall population health; and
WHEREAS, the Ottawa Board of Health has recognized that income is one of the most important social determinants of health, and relates to many other determinants including education and literacy, healthy behaviors, inadequate housing, and employment conditions; and
WHEREAS on the Ottawa Board of Health on June 17, 2024, approved a resolution supporting the concept of a Basic Income Guarantee for all people over the age of 17 in Canada to help combat low income and economic vulnerability within our community, and calling upon upon the federal and the provincial governments to collaborate on the introduction and implementation of a national Basic Income Guarantee program for all people over the age of 17 in Canada;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Ottawa City Council supports the advocacy of the Ottawa Board of Health in support of this this legislation and the passage of Senate Bill S-233 and House Bill C-223; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this support resolution be forwarded to the Government Representative in the Senate, and the Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance, the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and the Government House Leader.