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A Basic Income Program for all Manitobans

Gerrard will create a task force to develop basic income
program ready for 2020.

Winnipeg, MB – Today Jon Gerrard announced together with David Northcott, a task force to
develop a province-wide basic income program for all Manitobans.

Jon Gerrard said, “Should I be elected leader of the Manitoba Liberal party on October 21, one
of my first acts will be to appoint David Northcott as chair of a task force to develop the basic
income program. He will utilize his experience with Winnipeg Harvest along with guidance
from those with lived experience to create it."

A basic income, or guaranteed minimum income program, has been talked about for years, and
pilots are underway currently in Ontario. The plan to be developed by the Task Force chaired by David Northcott will be a province-wide basic income program which uses the tax system to implement it, and
will include supports for community and social engagement through volunteerism. The program will decrease poverty and protect the dignity of recipients while maintaining essential services

“In my training as an economist, and subsequently, I have watched the work on a basic income
program as it has evolved, and I believe the time is now to deliver it,” said Gerrard. “It is
important now, more than ever, not just to help those who are poor, but to ensure a basic
income level for those who find themselves out of work and in transition to a new job.
It will allow, for example, a more adequate period of retraining than is allowed under current
programs.”

The Task Force will include Sid Frankel, Associate Professor of the University of Manitoba
Faculty of Social Work, and Les Johnson, Economist and President of The Manitoba Institute of Management, as well as the chair David Northcott, former executive director of Winnipeg Harvest. “I am excited by the prospect of designing a workable system for Manitoba,” said Northcott. “I have long dreamed of the day when we could have a basic income program to support people to reduce poverty and reduce the need for food banks.”

“As a political economist, I believe this program could be revenue neutral in 4 years,” said Les
Johnson, “it can quickly become a matter of fact with a tax revenue analysis.”

 See this link for a short video of announcement




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