Rallygoers call on Nova Scotia to adopt basic income program
Global News
Supporters gathered in Halifax on Saturday to raise awareness and push the government in Nova Scotia to implement a basic income.
Supporters gathered in Halifax on Saturday to raise awareness for what they say is a need for Nova Scotia and Canada to implement a basic income program.
“A basic income is enough money to provide people with support for their basic needs,” said Mandy Kay-Raining Bird, chair of the Basic Income Group of Nova Scotia. “It’s a direct payment from the government to ensure that everyone has sufficient income to participate in society and live with dignity.”
The concept of a basic income isn’t new and other provinces in Canada have studied it and introduced basic income pilot projects, like in Manitoba and in Ontario.
Prince Edward Island has been studying it and in February the province requested co-operation from the federal government to establish a working group to help set up a basic income guarantee program there.
“What we advocate for is the provincial government and the federal government to work together to ensure the implementation of a basic income. It can’t be done by the provinces because they don’t have enough money,” said Kay-Raining Bird.
Christie Ragan was at the rally, advocating for a universal basic income program.
“The most vulnerable people are being left out in the cold, literally,” said Ragan, a single mother who is trying to finish her degree in acupuncture and traditional medicine.
Ragan says the pandemic has put her at least a year behind in her schooling and says it’s been hard to juggle her school commitments, parenting and a job which she’s currently out of.