Basic Income Waterloo Region is a group of community members who are passionate about improving Canada’s social safety net, eliminating poverty and responding to the rise of automation in the workforce. We are committed to seeing a basic income implemented to solve the socio-economic problems affecting communities across Canada. We’re not aligned with any political party, because support for basic income extends across Canada’s political spectrum. We promote research, base our arguments on evidence and collaborate with partners throughout Waterloo Region and across the country to make basic income Canada’s next great social program.

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Our Vision of a Basic Income Social Policy

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Basic Income Waterloo Region defines basic income as “money paid by a government to people on a regular basis to ensure that everyone has a reliable, adequate income to let them be healthy, live in dignity and participate in their community, regardless of their work status.”

Basic Income Waterloo Region recognizes that a basic income policy will not solve all problems with our current social assistance system. It is not a panacea.

• While a basic income could replace the income from provincial programs such as Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program and federal programs such as Old Age Security and the Child Tax Benefit, we would still need other publicly provided supports:
  • healthcare
  • disability services
  • housing
  • employment services
  • childcare
  • education
  • labour legislation and unions etc.
• In addition, minimum wage legislation would continue to be needed, as well as regulation to ensure safe workplaces.
• Programs that provide for dental care and prescription drugs at low cost or no cost would also continue to be necessary.

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