The Liberal grassroots have backed at least four resolutions for basic income programs at policy conventions including by a vote of 77 per cent at a virtual convention held in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it has never appeared in a campaign platform.

The idea of a basic personal income in Canada gained traction after the pandemic when the government provided an emergency income benefit to millions of Canadians who lost their jobs because of COVID-19 restrictions.

NDP MP Leah Gazan introduced a private member’s bill in 2021 to create a national framework for a universal basic income but the bill never made it beyond first reading.

A similar bill introduced in the Senate by Sen. Kim Pate was in the midst of being studied by a committee when Parliament was prorogued last month.

In 2021, the parliamentary budget officer published an analysis suggesting it would cost $85 billion to provide $17,000 to low-income Canadian families and would cut poverty rates in half.

  • rbesfe
    3·
    2 days ago

    You’re exactly right on the vibes point. Gould is practically tied at the hip to Trudeau, and would easily give the Conservatives a majority. Honestly I think they’ll win a majority regardless, but Carney might be able to at least keep an official party status.

    • cygnus
      3·
      2 days ago

      FWIW all of the major pollsters have Carney at minimum forcing a conservative minority, if not winning outright.

      • fourish@lemmy.world
        2·
        22 hours ago

        Either of these is acceptable to me. I really want to vote NDP but they have a messaging problem though I think Jagmeet is a solid guy who was quite personable when I met him.