Guaranteed livable income
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to implement a universal Guaranteed Livable Income: a monthly cash benefit, tax‑administered with progressive clawbacks, regional cost adjustments and no means testing. The government responds it prefers provincial collaboration and points to existing supports (Canada Child Benefit, OAS/GIS, CWB, EI), dental expansion, upcoming Canada Disability Benefit and childcare funding.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would establish an income floor for all Canadians, reducing poverty and providing a predictable safety net during economic shocks, pandemics, disasters or automation.
- A single, tax‑administered benefit with no means testing could simplify delivery and lower federal and provincial administrative costs compared with many separate programs.
- Progressive clawbacks and regional cost adjustments aim to target support fairly while preserving universality.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Implementing a universal monthly benefit would be costly and require major fiscal trade‑offs, raising questions about sustainability and competing priorities.
- Replacing existing federal and provincial programs could reduce flexibility to address specific needs or require complex federal–provincial coordination.
- A universal cash benefit may affect labour market incentives and could be less efficient than targeted supports for some vulnerable groups.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED Whereas: A Guaranteed Liveable Income (GLI) would guarantee a liveable monthly income to every Canadian with a social insurance number; Establish an income floor below which no Canadian could fall, and reflect regional differences in cost of living; Replace the current patchwork of federal and provincial income assistance programs with a single, universal, cash benefit; Be progressively taxed back based on income level; Be administered through the existing tax system and require no means testing, thereby dramatically reducing federal and provincial administration costs; Reduce poverty, thereby reducing the demand on social services, law enforcement and health care, resulting in additional cost savings for government and taxpayers; Provide a financial safety net for all Canadians, especially through major economic shifts, pandemics, natural disasters, or industry automation. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: Implement Guaranteed Livable Income for all Canadians.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Annie Koutrakis The Government of Canada is taking crucial steps to help make life more affordable for more Canadians, while investing to grow the economy and create jobs. It is important to acknowledge that income security is a shared responsibility across different levels of government. As such, the federal Government recognizes the importance of working with provinces and territories to find solutions to common challenges. This petition calls for the implementation of a Guaranteed Livable Income, which can be viewed as equivalent to a basic income. The Government of Canada already has ongoing programs with features of a partial basic income, such as the Canada Child Benefit for families with children as well as the Old Age Security (OAS) pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement for seniors. In addition, existing programs such as the Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) and Employment Insurance (EI) help low-income individuals that have labour market attachment or those with insurable employment. These and other initiatives have contributed to progress on lifting Canadians out of poverty. These programs exist alongside provincial and territorial programs, including those that deliver social assistance. In addition, the Government is continuing to focus on measures that will help to alleviate poverty and inequality. For example, the Government has recently expanded the Canadian Dental Care Plan to cover about eight million Canadians, saving the average person more than $800 per year. Furthermore, the first payments of the new Canada Disability Benefit will begin in July 2025, and are estimated to increase the financial well-being of over 600,000 low-income persons with disabilities. The Government is also working with provincial, territorial and Indigenous partners to build a Canada-wide, community-based early learning child care system. The federal government is providing provinces and territories with significant funding to support substantial reductions to families for the cost of regulated child care spaces. The Government of Canada also undertakes research and analysis on potential basic income programs and other approaches that could positively impact Canada’s economy and society, as part of its efforts to tackle poverty and to ensure that all Canadians have a real and fair opportunity to succeed.