May 16, 2017 | Dr. Gayle Broad and Jessica Nadjiwon-Smith
As Ontario moves ahead with the implementation of a Basic Income Guarantee (B.I.G.) pilot, it will be critical to consider how this type of program will impact First Nations communities.
The first report of Northern Policy Institute’s B.I.G. series, Basic Income Guarantee and First Nations: Cautions for Implementation, by Dr. Gayle Broad and Jessica Nadjiwon-Smith, identifies key areas of concern, citing that without pilot-testing, sustained government commitment, and significant engagement with First Nations, the implementation of a B.I.G. may have unforeseen negative consequences for communities already experiencing the highest rates of poverty in the province.
The report cautions Canadian governments historically have underfunded and sometimes undermined programs in First Nations, and questions what evidence supports the likelihood that the implementation of a B.I.G. would be any different.