Minister of Community and Social Services Helena Jaczek speaks at the consultation for the basic income pilot, January 30, 2017. (Photo by Maureen Revait)Minister of Community and Social Services Helena Jaczek speaks at the consultation for the basic income pilot, January 30, 2017. (Photo by Maureen Revait)
Windsor

Basic Income Consultation

The provincial government is wrapping up its consultation process on the basic income pilot with a visit to Windsor.

Windsor is among 14 cities the government is travelling to to determine how the pilot project should be rolled out, who should be eligible and what should measure its success.

"The theory is that if you have that kind of security perhaps you'll be more able to find a job, to volunteer, to part of society and maybe have improved health incomes as well," says Minister of Community and Social Services Helena Jaczek.

She says the basic income pilot is a lot more complicated then just providing a set wage to the test group.

"You would do it in a scientific way. You'd have a control study, so you'd have those on the project, those not and then you'd compare the results," says Jaczek.

Many are concerned the pilot program could leave more holes in the system and not truly dig people out of poverty like it's intended.

"I do have concerns about one type of basic income pilot that might let employers off the hook. They might feel like they can pay lower wages and that the government is going to pick up the difference," says MPP for Windsor-West Lisa Gretzky.

The final stop on the tour is today in London. The province will then compile the data and expects to announce the final program in April. Jaczek expects the project to begin some time in 2017 and will last three years.

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