The following letter was individually sent to Senators Pierre Dalphond, Jane MacAdam and Tony Loffreda as they voted against Bill S-233 in Committee.
March 23, 2024
Dear Senator,
I am writing to you on behalf of the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) to ask that you reconsider your position on Bill S-233, An Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income, ahead of the final vote.
For years, CASW has advocated for the federal government to move forward with a universal basic income guarantee. Through past pilot projects in Manitoba and Ontario, evidence has shown that that a basic income is the most effective and efficient way to address the long term social and financial costs of poverty, especially with regards to health and wellbeing, child welfare, and criminal justice.
A basic income also has the potential to grow the economy from the inside, an investment that would lift Canadians out of poverty and would be felt most by small businesses and local economies. The approximately 2.8 million Canadians that live below the poverty line currently have access to a patchwork of federal, provincial, and municipal programs. Navigating these benefits can prove challenging and many Canadians slip through the cracks: we urge you to move away from the idea of a safety net in favour of a stable foundation offered by a basic income.
We urge you to take this into consideration when making your decision during the final vote on Bill S-233 in the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance.
Sincerely,
Fred Phelps, MSW, RSW
Executive Director
Canadian Association of Social Workers