Is a basic income too good — or too expensive — to be true in Canada?
CBC Radio | Posted: May 22, 2020 1:00 PM | Last Updated: May 22, 2020
Canada Emergency Relief Benefit success sparks argument for a more universal basic income
When the Canadian economy started to shut down in March, millions of Canadians lost their source of income.
In response, the federal government stepped-in with the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit, or CERB.
It's easy to qualify for the monthly $2000 cheque, with few questions asked. But the benefit only lasts for four months, and that means early applicants will run out fairly soon.
- CBC's business and economics show, Cost of Living, is back to its regular spring timeslot on CBC Radio One. Catch it Friday May 22 at 11:30 a.m. local time, or Tuesday, May 26 at 11:30 p.m. (midnight in Newfoundland).
As the debate grows, Cost of Living executive producer Tracy Johnson digs into whether Canada should evolve the temporary program into a permanent basic income.
Click "listen" at the top of the page to hear this segment, or download the Cost of Living podcast.