WEBINAR | The Road to Basic Income Earth Network Congress 2026

The Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction, alongside partners from Canada and around the world, hosted a two-part series of critical conversations leading up to the 2026 Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN) Congress.

Bringing together researchers, economists, community leaders, advocates, policymakers, and people with lived experience, the series explored the Canadian and international contexts shaping the conversation about basic income today. 

Part ONe:  Canadian context for basic income

April 23, 2026

The first conversation examined the Canadian context for basic income, bringing together former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, University of Manitoba economist and author Dr. Evelyn Forget, Kwame McKenzie of Wellesley Institute, Dr. Wayne Lewchuk, Senator Kim Pate, and former basic income pilot participants.

Part TWO: International polycrises and context for basic income

July 22, 2026

The second conversation expanded the discussion to the global stage, exploring how basic income intersects with today's interconnected social, economic, and political challenges. The session featured the Basic Income Earth Network alongside international economists, authors, researchers, and other specialists working across the field.

About basic income

Basic Income is a periodic cash payment unconditionally delivered to all individuals, without means-testing or work requirements.

BI has the following FIVE characteristics:

• Periodic: it is paid at regular intervals (for example, every month), not as a one-off grant.

• Cash payment: It is paid in a medium of exchange, allowing the recipient to decide how to spend it. It is not, therefore, paid either in kind (such as food or services) or in vouchers dedicated to a specific use.

• Individual: it is paid on an individual basis - and not, for instance, to households.

• Universal: it is paid to all.

• Unconditional: it is paid without means test and without a requirement to work or to demonstrate willingness-to-work.

 A wide variety of Basic Income proposals are circulating today. They differ along many other dimensions, for instance, the amounts of the Basic Income, the source of funding, the nature and size of reductions in other transfers that might accompany it, and so on.

We are honoured to co-moderate with Basic Income Earth Network organizers and long-time changemakers from the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction and the Anglican Diocese of Niagara.

speakers

• Tom Cooper. Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction

• Sheila Regehr. Basic Income Canada Network (BICN)

• Dr. Kwame McKenzie.Wellesley Institute

• Kathleen Wynne. Munk School, Former ON Premier

• Dr. Evelyn Forget. University of Manitoba

• Dr. Wayne Lewchuk. McMaster University

• Senator Kim Pate. Senate of Canada

• Deirdre Pike. Anglican Diocese of Niagara

• Miriam Opwonya Laker-Oketta. Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA)

• Jurgen De Wispelaere (PhD). University of Bath

• Josephine Grey. St. Jamestown Community Co-operative

• Amy Castro (PhD). University of Pennsylvania

• Sid Frankel (PhD). University of Manitoba, BICN Executive Board Member

• Ben Earle. BICN General Manager and CEO, Feed the Need in Durham

• Tracy Smith-Carrier (PhD). Royal Roads University

• Sarath Davala. India Network for Basic Income and Mission Possible 2030