Dear Prime Minister,
This letter is a follow up to my letter sent to you on August 19th.
On August 10th, 2020, I introduced a Private Member’s Motion for a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income, M-46, for consideration by the 43rd Parliament.
Motion 46 calls on the Government to introduce legislation in partnership with provincial governments, territorial governments, and Indigenous Peoples to implement a permanent guaranteed livable basic income in Canada. Of most importance to the motion is that this income guarantee program would be in addition to current and future government public services and income supports meant to meet special needs, including, for example, investments in affordable accessible social housing, supports for disabled persons, seniors, students, refugees, and temporary foreign workers.
COVID-19 has revealed that our current social safety net in Canada does not adequately support people, resulting in increasing income disparities and growing numbers of individuals and families living in poverty. All persons in Canada deserve to live in dignity and have their human rights upheld. This is currently not being afforded to millions of individuals across the country. It is a political choice for governments to deny these rights, which we are obliged to respect in keeping with the Canadian Charter and our international legal human rights obligations we have signed on to.
Motion 46 has a broad base of support, including but not limited to MPs and Senators from all parties, unions, health leaders, Seniors, academics, the music and creative sector, small businesses, farmers, young people, students, Disabled persons, faith groups, Indigenous Peoples, and civil society. Individuals across Canada have been mobilizing in support of M-46, including the over 40,000 who have signed the petition in support of the Motion. It also heeds Call for Justice 4.5 of the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls.
We are at a critical juncture. The health and lives of Canadians are depending on the choices we make as legislators to ensure we can make it through the pandemic and move forward in a manner that ensures a better life for all. I am asking that you join me, along with members from all parties, including your own caucus, to support Motion 46 to legislate and implement a permanent guaranteed livable basic income in Canada. This bold step is one way to uphold the human rights and dignity of all.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about M-46. If there was ever a time, it is now.
Leah Gazan
Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre
