Today’s comments were selected because they offer arguments for and against universal basic income and the Ontario government’s decision to end a three-year trial involving 4,000 recipients two years early. News stories and columns about this issue are being widely read by our audience.
From It’s in everyone’s interests to finish Ontario’s basic income pilot project by Campbell Clark
A board with the family's monthly expenses is posted on the wall at John and Brandy Childforever's Thunder Bay, Ont. home on April 20 2017. At the time, the provincial government in Ontario was considering implementing a basic income trial for residents that could replace welfare. Doug Ford recently decided to end that trial, two years early.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
It’s unfortunate that an effort to rationalize welfare services and potentially reduce costs over the long run has been kicked to the curb by ideology not common sense - flying fort
When you take away the reason to work do not be surprised if you get a larger number of people who retire on public assistance. - Frosty Canuck
Sad to see this halted. That truly makes waste of what has already been spent. Add to that the loss of information and it’s just a shame. Unemployment has been a problem for many since the 70’s and automation will make that worse. Not addressing that issue will lead to further criminalization of poverty which becomes more and more expensive. So we’ll cut prison costs and end up like the countries we despise. We’re returning to the past where there are wealthy and slaves. Sad. Before you support the Fords and Trumps of this world, you might want to think which side you’d land on in that equation. - JT1216
Whether or not Ontario can afford to implement a basic-income for those in appropriate need or not should not have had any bearing on the cancellation of the test program.
The results could have had significant input to the whole welfare system. And, given the $50M cost - that is negligible in the whole scheme of things. - Retired Dude1
If we can’t afford to implement it why test it. With a billion dollars a month in interest costs and rising this doesn’t seem to be an opportune time for brave and expensive new social programs. - mtm5677
Comment of the week:
From Syrian refugee, fisherman’s friend: How a retiring couple found a new heir to their Lake Ontario business by Camilla Cornell
Thanks for this good news story. It’s uplifting on so many fronts, from a couple of mature Canadians accepting the young Syrian man as a son, the young man’s eagerness to learn their business and the benefit the Syrian family will ultimately be to the community.
It’s the immigrant story and it speaks so strongly to me. I’m the descendant of Polish immigrants who came here a century ago and farmed some very inhospitable land while raising a family that would go on to bring honour to their adopted country. Thank you! - daledaledale
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