Should Canada introduce a guaranteed basic income?

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A guaranteed basic income in Canada would help alleviate poverty but could also put the fiscal sustainability and labour supply of some provinces at risk, a new study published Thursday says.

The report by the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council, a Halifax-based economic think tank, said providing people with a monthly cheque would ensure everyone has enough money to meet their essential needs, including food, housing and clothing.

The income support would reduce inequality, establish a sense of financial security and encourage savings, the study found.

Yet a basic income program — whether needs-based or universal, with the amount paid to higher income earners recouped through taxes — would be more complex than it seems, the report said.

Funding the program would likely require increasing taxes or cutting government spending, it said.

"One of the biggest risks is how this program would be funded over the long term," said Lana Asaff, a senior economist with APEC. "It's quite expensive."

A report by the Parliamentary Budget Officer estimated a national guaranteed basic income would cost about $88 billion in 2022-2023.

If social programs are cut to help pay for a basic income, there’s a risk that certain groups in society could be worse off, Asaff said.

The risk for some regions, such as Atlantic Canada, could also be worse, she added.

Meanwhile, a guaranteed income could also create a disincentive to work, potentially worsening existing labour shortages.

"There's a concern that it could discourage people from working," Asaff said. "That could be a challenge especially in lower-wage industries, which is where we're seeing a lot of labour shortages."

The idea of a guaranteed basic income program gained renewed interest during the pandemic.

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