HKPR pledges support for federal basic income bill

DAN CEARNS The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPRDHU) is supporting two federal bills, calling for the creation of a federal “guaranteed livable basic income.”

At a recent meeting, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) board members saw and endorsed correspondence from the Middlesex-London Health Unit which urged health units to support Bills S-233 and C-223, also known as “An Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income.”

The health unit also sent a letter to several members of the federal government on this support.

“The HKPRDHU has provided longstanding support for income-based solutions, to reduce rates of poverty and household food insecurity. In the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District area, 8.7 percent of Northumberland households, 10.2 percent of Kawartha Lakes households, and 12.9 percent of Haliburton households, live in poverty and struggle to pay for rent, bills and healthy food. When families cannot afford to buy the food they need to maintain good health, they are food insecure. Food insecurity is a symptom of poverty. The health consequences of food insecurity and poverty incur significant costs to Canada’s publicly funded healthcare system. Adults in food insecure households are more likely to be diagnosed with a wide range of chronic conditions, including mental health disorders, higher stress and anxiety, non-communicable diseases, and infections,” the letter stated.

In the letter, the health unit called 'portions of basic income' “essential components to effectively reduce poverty and household food insecurity.”

A briefing note, in the agenda package, explained what guaranteed basic income is.

“Basic income guarantee is an unconditional cash transfer, from the government to citizens, to provide a minimum annual income, not tied to labour market participation. It is an essential component of a strategy, to effectively eliminate poverty, ensure all Canadians have a sufficient income to meet their basic needs, and live with dignity and to eliminate health inequities.”

One board member asked if member municipalities should provide their own support motions.

“I think the more letters of support things like this get, from a variety of different partners and organizations, the better,” medical officer of health, Dr. Natalie Bocking, said.

The briefing note spoke to a previous program which had been implemented in Lindsay.

“In 2017, Lindsay was one of four cities selected to pilot Ontario’s Basic Income. The premature termination of that source of income left devastating effects on recipients, who had begun to improve their physical and mental health, labour market participation, food insecurity, housing stability, financial status and social relationships.”