Consultations on a basic income pilot project have been held in Windsor.
The province is planning to spend $25-million over a three year period.
Community and Social Services Minister Helena Jaczek says the only other basic income pilot project was in Manitoba in the 1970's but the findings weren't conclusive. "There were some hints that there was less hospitalization, there was some evidence that high school completion was more common in the families that received this," says Jaczek. "So, there were sort of hints at potential benefit."
Jaczek still needs to determine where the pilot will be hosted, how many will participate and how much money will be given to participants.
Lisa Gretzky, the MPP for Windsor-West and newly-appointed NDP homelessness and social services critic, supports the project as long as it's not 'one-size-fits-all'. "The cost of living in Toronto is going to be very different than the cost of living here in Windsor or the cost of living in a northern town, so I think that's something the government will take into account."
Paul Chislett with the Windsor Workers' Education Centre attends a consultation meeting regarding a basic income pilot program held at the University of Windsor on January 30, 2017. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
Paul Chislett with the Windsor Workers' Education Centre says "there may only be a small window in which to get the program funded. If this process happens and it goes on for a year and the [Progressive Conservatives] get elected, God forbid, but if they did we can kiss all this goodbye right?" says Chislett. "So, we need to raise the rates now."
Finland is the first country to try a basic income program on a large scale.
People aged 25 to 58 get roughly $785 a month in place of existing social benefits.
Details on Ontario's plan are expected in April.