On August 10th, 2020, MP Leah Gazan submitted a motion to convert the CERB into a permanent Guaranteed Livable Basic Income. The motion comes out of a collaborative effort with Basic Income Manitoba and the Basic Income Canada Network. Read the full text of M-46. Add your name to support MP Leah Gazan's motion here!
Contact your MP and tell them to support Motion 46, Leah Gazan's unanimous consent motion calling for GLBI in Canada
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Dear _______,
On Wednesday, April 28, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre, Leah Gazan, will be making a unanimous consent motion in the House of Commons calling for a guaranteed livable basic income in Canada. The motion being put forward for unanimous consent is as follows:
That, in the opinion of the House, the government should introduce legislation and work with provincial and territorial governments and Indigenous peoples to ensure that a guaranteed livable basic income (i) accounting for regional differences in living costs, (ii) for all Canadians over the age of 18, including single persons, students, families, seniors, persons with disabilities, temporary foreign workers, permanent residents, and refugee claimants, (iii) paid on a regular basis, (iv) not requiring participation in the labour market, education or training in order to be eligible, (v) in addition to current and future government public services and income supports meant to meet special, exceptional and other distinct needs and goals rather than basic needs, including accessible affordable social housing and expanded health services, establish a guaranteed livable basic income on an ongoing and permanent basis in a concerted effort to eradicate poverty and ensure the respect, dignity and security of all persons in respect of Canada’s domestic and international legal obligations.
As a member of your constituency, I am urging you support Leah Gazan's unanimous consent motion on April 28.
A guaranteed livable basic income will provide a financial safety net for those who need it in addition to current and future government public services and income supports.
There is also undeniably widespread support for basic income in Canada. Over the past year, several prominent organizations, as well as Leah's parliamentary office, circulated petitions for GLBI receiving support from over 44,000 signatories. We know that a GLBI would significantly contribute to eradicating poverty in Canada.
On April 7, 2021, a Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) report estimated that guaranteed basic income — a cash transfer sufficient to meet basic needs and available to anyone with income below a certain cut off — would cut poverty in half by 2022.
The time for basic income in Canada is right now. No further studies are needed. Instead, we need this government to come up with a concrete plan for introducing basic income in Canada.
I am asking you to represent my interests on April 28 by supporting Leah's unanimous consent motion and push for a GLBI for all in need. I will be watching closely to see that you do so.
I look forward to hearing from you.
(your name)
