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e-2555 (Social affairs and equality)

E-petition
Initiated by Neal Jennings from Vancouver, British Columbia

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the House of Commons

Whereas:
  • Providing a basic income to residents has been shown in tests around the world to improve social outcomes and equity;
  • The government has introduced measures to provide income to those who cannot work due to the COVID-19 crisis;
  • Canada already provides a universal basic income to seniors, the Old Age Security (OAS);
  • Canada also provides other payments such as Employment Insurance (EI), and similar provincial benefits;
  • Canada currently provides low-income residents with tax credits such as the GST/HST credit and Canada workers benefit rather than ensuring no Canadian resident lives in poverty;
  • Canada is facing an economic climate that could lead to substantial permanent job losses, induced not only by the COVID-19 pandemic but also by automation, as well as the transition away from fossil fuels;
  • Lack of income is a leading contributor to Canada's housing and mental health crises; and
  • The OAS is an existing benefit known to work, easy to administer, taxable, means-tested (through the Part I.2 tax clawback), and includes guaranteed income through the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to extend, on a permanent basis, the OAS to all Canadian residents aged 18 or over, being the age at which the Canada Child Benefit expires. The new All Age Security should be fixed annually at a dollar amount that exceeds the poverty income level, while retaining the existing taxation and clawback rules for the OAS. This change would allow the elimination of EI, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, and other similar programs.
Open for signature
May 26, 2020, at 9:35 a.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature
July 25, 2020, at 9:35 a.m. (EDT)
Presented to the House of Commons
Peter Julian (New Westminster—Burnaby)
June 3, 2021 (Petition No. 432-01035)
Photo - Peter Julian
New Westminster—Burnaby
New Democratic Party Caucus
British Columbia