Lindsay, Ont., with a population of around 20,000, has been chosen to represent a typical small Ontario city in a basic income pilot program.
There’s an increasing interest by governments in basic income programs. Basic income is a payment to eligible families or individuals that ensures a minimum income level, regardless of employment status.
Currently, in Ontario, many financial assistance programs are not available to those who are working but earning below the basic income level. Pilots are scheduled for the Thunder Bay area, the Hamilton-Brantford area and the town of Lindsay.
Rod Sutherland, the director of Human Services for the City of Kawartha Lakes, says up to 2000 residents will be chosen to receive the basic income as part of the pilot.
“It should be able to identify the impact of 2000 people, up to 2000 people, in a community of this size, the impacts on the community of injecting that income in reducing barriers in accessing other services, employment, education, and everything else that would contribute to that broader community health,” Sutherland said.
But not just the overall health of the community should be affected. It’s expected the specific health of individuals will benefit from a basic income.
“Studies have shown, income is directly related to good health outcomes. For example, if you are able to buy more nutritious food that increases your health” says Mike Perry, executive director of the City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team.
Town of Lindsay residents wishing to take part should email basicincome@ontario.ca or call 1-844-217-4516