April 24, 2017 - The City of Thunder Bay has been chosen to take part in a provincial pilot project to assess whether a basic income can better support vulnerable workers, improve health and education outcomes for people on low incomes, and help ensure that everyone shares in Ontario's economic growth.

Thunder Bay is among three regions starting the pilot in late spring, including Hamilton, Brantford and Brant County. The province is partnering with these communities and other experts to make sure that the Ontario Basic Income Pilot is fair, effective, and scientifically valid.

The Basic Income model Ontario has developed will ensure that eligible participants receive:

  • Up to $16,989 per year for a single person, less 50 per cent of any earned income
  • Up to $24,027 per year for a couple, less 50 per cent of any earned income
  • Up to an additional $6,000 per year for a person with a disability.

"A basic income will help lift so many vulnerable people out of poverty and strive for a better life, and we would like to thank Premier Kathleen Wynne and the Province for including Thunder Bay in this three-year study," said Mayor Keith Hobbs. "I'd also like to thank Minister Michael Gravelle and Minister Bill Mauro for their advocacy, and acknowledge the work of the Inter-Governmental Affairs Committee, my colleagues on City Council, and members of and stakeholders in the City of Thunder Bay for their contribution to this."

Participants in the pilot will be able to increase their total income by combining a basic income with 50 cents from every dollar they earn at work. Those who earn less than the basic income amount through employment will receive regular payments to help them better afford basic needs such as housing and food.

The three test regions will host 4,000 participants eligible to receive a basic income payment, between the ages of 18 to 64. By late spring, people in these areas will begin receiving information about the pilot and how to participate. 

"People are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living, and this pilot will help determine whether a basic income can bridge that gap," added Hobbs.

For more information, visit: https://news.ontario.ca/mcss/en/2017/04/ontarios-basic-income-pilot.html

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Contact:       Stacey Levanen, Supervisor - Corporate Communications, 625-3650