Bill C-223, also known as the National Framework for a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income Act, aims to create a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income program in Canada. The bill tasks the Minister of Finance with developing this framework, which would provide all individuals over the age of 17, including temporary workers, permanent residents, and refugee claimants, with access to a guaranteed basic income. The bill specifies that the Minister must consult with various stakeholders, including other ministers, provincial representatives, Indigenous elders and governing bodies, and experts, during the framework's development.
The framework must include measures to determine what constitutes a livable basic income in different regions of Canada, considering the cost of essential goods and services. It also aims to create national standards for health and social supports that would complement the basic income program. The bill emphasizes that participation in education, training, or the labor market should not be required to qualify for the basic income, and that the implementation of the program should not reduce existing services or benefits related to health or disability.
The Minister of Finance is required to prepare a report outlining the framework, including social, health, and economic conclusions and recommendations, within one year of the bill coming into force. This report must be tabled in both Houses of Parliament and published on the Department of Finance's website. Following the tabling of the initial report, the Minister must conduct annual reviews of the framework's effectiveness, in consultation with relevant parties, and report the findings to Parliament every year thereafter.
In summary, Bill C-223 is focused on establishing a framework and reporting mechanisms for a potential guaranteed livable basic income program in Canada, with the goal of ensuring all persons over the age of 17 have access to a basic income that allows them to live a dignified and healthy life.
Inflation and Cost of Living
The bill directly addresses the cost of living by requiring the framework to determine what constitutes a "livable basic income" for each region in Canada. This determination must take into account the goods and services necessary for individuals to lead a dignified and healthy life, as well as the cost of those goods and services in accessible markets. This suggests an attempt to link the basic income level to the actual cost of living in different areas.
Jobs
The bill specifies that participation in education, training, or the labour market is not required to qualify for a guaranteed livable basic income. This indicates an intention to provide a safety net regardless of employment status, potentially offering individuals the flexibility to pursue education, training, or other opportunities without the immediate pressure of needing to work.
Spending
The bill calls for the Minister of Finance to develop a framework for a guaranteed livable basic income, implying significant government spending. However, the specifics of funding and implementation are not detailed in the bill itself; it only establishes the need for a framework to be developed and reported on.