1) Lower health care costs.
2) Lower policing costs. 3) Lower crime rates. 4) Safer streets. 5) Less senior citizen neglect. 6) Homelessness greatly reduced or even eliminated. 7) Less child poverty. 8) (and this is a biggie) Less bureaucracy and its associated costs. 9) Less inefficiency in processing applications and claims.
10) Social safety net streamlined and centralized saving taxpayers millions of dollars every month.
These are the benefits of a guaranteed annual income. Countries that have such a program are healthier and richer, their children do far better in school and people addicted to harmful substances are more likely to seek treatment and become productive.
Getting rid of the layers of bureaucracy in the application of the social safety net saves millions of dollars that can be redirected to things like health care. Hugh Segal, a retired Conservative Senator, is one of Canada's strongest proponents of a guaranteed annual income, and he has often outlined the fiscal benefits in his dealings with the press. His views are worth a second look.
The Green Party of B.C. has said this week that it plans to promote such a program in its platform, and many eyes are watching the Ontario government's tryout.
Carefully and correctly implemented, such a program could transform a province - or a nation - into a healthier society. It's time to stop punishing people for being unable to find work. It's time to stop punishing seniors who never made enough money to save for a pension. It's time to break down the barriers that prevent the addicted and the mentally ill from getting the treatment they need, and it is high time that we put an end to people freezing to death on the streets. It's also high time that one should be able to walk down the street without having to anticipate a crime committed against him or her out of desperation.
It's time to treat others as we ourselves wish to be treated. It's better for everyone. A guaranteed income is one of the best ways to achieve that goal, as human beings, as Christians, and as good citizens.
M.L. Crawford,
Burns Lake
