Hello there,

Thank you for registering for the Basic Income Atlantic Canada Summit. We were delighted to host leaders across Atlantic Canada who provided insight into their challenges and questions around Basic Income and surfaced several solutions centered on cross-jurisdictional collaboration.

If you haven't already, please read and sign the Basic Income NOW Atlantic Canada consensus statement and encourage your friends, colleagues and partners to sign and share it as well.

Summit Recording and Videos

• Summit PowerPoint Slides
• Elizabeth Kay-Raining Bird (Mandy Rainbird), Chair, Basic Income Nova Scotia
• The Honourable Wayne Easter, former MP, Malpeque, PEI
• Panel discussion and questions period

Discussion Highlights

• Broadening support and political will is essential, particularly with the competing priorities of governments and the complexities of implementing a Basic Income. Everyone can help raise the conversation so that BI is a priority for elected officials
• Mechanisms for cross-jurisdictional collaboration currently do not exist, and Basic Income doesn't have a "home" in any current government structure. There is an appetite for creating an Atlantic Bloc of premiers which could put pressure on the federal government
• Indigenous leaders are essential partners in Basic Income discussions to uphold the self-determination of Indigenous communities
• We must continue hearing from people with lived/living experiences 
• There are many things we can learn from one another, specifically from PEI and NL

Take Your Learning Further: Resources

• Publication | Southern Ontario’s Basic Income Experience - Evidence from pilots debunk the myth that people are lazy and will stop working on a Basic Income
• Op Ed | Helping People Help Themselves - Reflecting on the results of the Ontario Basic Income pilots amidst the backdrop of rising unaffordability 
• Publication | CERB and Labour Shortages in Canada - Debunks the myth that recent labour shortages were caused by CERB and other pandemic benefits
• Article | The Case for Basic Income and Municipalities - Co-created by Councillor Waye Mason
• Open Letter | Health professionals support implementation of Basic Income
• Article | Frequently Asked Questions for Members of Parliament
• Publication | Basic Income: Some Policy Options for Canada (FR & EN) - Three detailed options for a national Basic Income, which could nearly eliminate poverty
• Publication | Who Pays for a Basic Income: Probably not you - Proposes a just tax structure where wealthy income (not middle income) earners pay for Basic Income
• Website | Coalition Canada Basic Income and Basic Income Canada Network 

Upcoming Learning with Tamarack 

• Hybrid Event | Communities Taking Climate Action | November 15 & 16 | Explore inspiring stories and approaches that are helping communities put equity and justice at the centre of climate transition and mitigation efforts
  
  
• Webinar | Transforming Systems for Continued Poverty Reduction Success | November 23 | 11:00 a.m.‒12:00 p.m. ET | Scott MacAfee and Rochelle Ignacio discuss the National Advisory Council on Poverty Report, particularly systems changes needed to build a more equitable society for people facing higher levels of racism and discrimination

We thank you for your attendance and participation in the summit.

Sincerely,

Natasha Pei, Maureen Owens and the Basic Income NOW Atlantic Canada Team