WEBCAST: Why can’t they just send us all a cheque? Debating a crisis basic income

In this webcast moderated by Max Bell School Director Chris Ragan, watch Jennifer Robson, Associate Professor at Carleton University, and Ken Boessenkool, public-policy economist, discuss the complexity of delivering government benefits during a crisis.

A crisis basic income would cover almost all Canadians who are working, is automatic rather than application-based, and can be taxed, or clawed back when Canadians file their taxes next year. Ken Boessenkool believes this is the best way forward.

On the other hand, Jennifer Robson argues that Canada’s tax collector does not have a super-database that it can use, on demand, to just print cheques to everyone. Moreover, spending time and money to build one, in the middle of a crisis, would be unethical.

Register here.

This webcast is open to the public. Priority during the Q&A section of this webcast will be given to Max Bell MPP students. You can access the full series of briefs and webinars for the Policy Challenges During a Pandemic series here and sign up to receive email updates about this series here.