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Council to consider advocating for basic income program

United Way Perth-Huron and Huron Perth Public Health advocated for a basic income program in Canada, entreating Stratford City Council to petition the government on behalf of the municipality
USED 03202023unitedway
United Way building on Erie Street.

Stratford City Council will consider advocating for a basic income program. 

At Monday night's regular council meeting a delegation from United Way Perth-Huron (UWPH) and Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH) addressed council. 

Ryan Erb, executive director, UWPH, and Candace Cunningham, a dietitian at HPPH, presented results of a survey conducted in November on food insecurity. 

The study found 33 per cent of survey respondents face moderate to severe food insecurity. An overwhelming majority of respondents were employed full-time. 

They advocated for council to do a few things to meet this issue: make the City of Stratford a Living Wage employer ($20.70/hr), advocate for adequate income for all Canadians, support free income tax filing assistance, and offer free sports and recreation activities to those that are living with low income. 

They also recommended that council support a basic income program.

Basic income, they explained, is an unconditional supplement to bolster people not making a living wage. They noted multiple pilot tests for basic income programs were done in Brantford, Hamilton, and Brant County. 

Coun. Jo-Dee Burbach made a motion to send the letter of support included in the presentation to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. Coun. Cody Sebben said that he wanted to read the letter before committing to it. 

Coun. Taylor Briscoe inquired about sending a similar letter to the provincial government regarding ODSP increases and a basic income program. Cunningham indicated that they could draft similar letters for council to consider. 

The decision to send the letter in support of basic income was deferred so that all the notices can be presented together at the next meeting and all councillors get a chance to review them.