Guaranteed Basic Livable Income (GLBI) for Youth Exiting Care
Topic(s): 
Anti-Oppressive Practice
Child Welfare
Webinar event date: 
Nov 27, 2026 12:00 pm EST
Webinar link
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Webinar Presenters: 
The Honourable Kim Pate, Senator

Kim Pate was appointed to the Senate of Canada on November 10, 2016. First and foremost, the mother of Michael and Madison, she is also a nationally renowned advocate who has spent the last 45+ years working in and around the legal and penal systems of Canada, with and on behalf of some of the most marginalized, victimized, criminalized and institutionalized — particularly imprisoned youth, men and women. Her work in the Senate is focused on the development of robust, social, economic, and health systems that leave no Canadians behind.

Dr. Melanie Doucet, PhD Social Work, Executive Director & Project Lead, National Council of Youth in Care Advocates (NCYICA)

Dr. Doucet has been working to improve the lives of youth in care for nearly 20 years. She is a former youth in care originally from New Brunswick, and is now based in the unceded traditional territory of the Kanyenʼkehá꞉ka (Mohawk) Nation in Montreal, Quebec. She holds a PhD in Social Work, is an expert consultant, an Adjunct Professor at the McGill University School of Social Work, a member of the McGill Centre for Research on Children and Families (CRCF) and the Executive Director of the newly established lived experience-led organization, the National Council of Youth in Care Advocates (NCYICA). Dr. Doucet is a renowned public and keynote speaker on the importance of equitably supporting youth in and from care from a rights-based and humane perspective, and is an award-winning researcher. She continues to work as part of provincial, territorial and national youth in care advocacy communities on child protection policy and practice reform initiatives, and is currently leading the Equitable Transitions to Adulthood for Youth in Care project alongside the members of the National Council of Youth in Care Advocates.

Description

Youth leaving government care are often expected to become financially independent the moment they turn 18 or 19, without the family safety net many of their peers rely on. That sudden cutoff can increase the risk of housing instability, interrupted education, and long-term economic insecurity. Bill S-206 proposes Guaranteed Basic Livable Income (GLBI) as a way to provide stability during this critical transition into adulthood. GLBI is included as a key support required for youth exiting care under the Financial Pillar of the Equitable Standards for Transitions to Adulthood, and is a step toward ensuring youth leaving care have the foundation and financial stability they need to meet their basic needs, as well as to plan and build their futures, and pursue education or training.

During this webinar, the audience will learn about: 

  • An overview of the Financial Pillar of the Equitable Standards for Transitions to Adulthood for Youth in Care
  • Guaranteed Livable Basic Income (GLBI) Bill S-206 and its implications for youth exiting care
  • Case studies showcasing the positive impact of GLBI initiatives in Canada and the UK
  • The implications for child welfare policy and practice
  • Key next steps