Thread by @mr_lois_lane

📈💸 With affordability on many Ontarians’ minds this election, basic income advocates in #HamOnt (and across Canada) are working to make the topic an election issue. I spoke with several advocates and two economists about that push. [1/9] #Elxn44

https://twitter.com/TheAgenda/status/1431012025153605633

Research released in May found Hamilton is the third-most-expensive city in North America (cbc.ca/news/canada/ha…). During the pandemic, rent and housing prices shot up. @basicincomeHAM co-chair @lisaAalfano says current attempts at poverty reduction aren't working. [2/9]

BIH is part of a first-ever national campaign of advocates, called #BasicIncomeNow, asking federal candidates to support the measure. Alfano: “Our mandate at Basic Income Hamilton is to inform, educate, and engage our local community in the basic-income concept.” [3/9]

Jessie Golem, the photographer and advocate behind @HumansBasic says basic income has been shown to improve the lives of recipients. She was a participant in Ontario's BI pilot and has worked to share the stories of other participants. [4/9]

https://twitter.com/HumansBasic/status/1081010290018406403?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1081010290018406403%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tvo.org%2Farticle%2Fwill-basic-income-get-its-due-on-the-campaign-trail

A McMaster report on the pilot (which the govt. cancelled midway) found everyone who’d received BI reported benefiting in some way and that many reported better health, labour-market participation, food and housing security, & social relationships. [5/9] labourstudies.mcmaster.ca/documents/sout…

.@ElainePower6, co-author of "The Case for Basic Income," says a benefit of BI is its ease of access as compared to welfare programs, which she calls “dysfunctional” and “filled with 19th-century moral judgments about people who live in poverty.” [6/9]

Economist @ArmineYalnizyan and Prof. @MikePMoffatt aren't convinced, suggesting any BI policy needs to be assessed to see what it’s replacing or cutting out. Both say social supports are inadequate, but suggest better rules and investments in existing programs are needed. [7/9]

To date, basic income hasn’t been a major issue on the campaign trail. It has support from the Greens and NDP, but the Liberals and Conservatives haven't included it in their plans. Power says she finds that discouraging, but hopes supporters keep advocating. [8/9]

There's plenty more info in the full article, along with supplemental links: tvo.org/article/will-b…

Also: thanks to @TomCoopster, @deirdrepike, @keaninloomis and Jamie Swift for interviews and information. [9/9]