Students say that providing a guaranteed basic income is one of the most pressing issues in the upcoming 2018 Provincial Election.
By Hilary Punchard
TORONTO: A survey conducted by Ryerson Journalism students found that 63.8 per cent of the Ryerson body believes that providing a guaranteed basic income is important for the province of Ontario.
According to the Ontario Basic Income Pilot, the project would allow people to earn $16,989 per year and $24,027 per couple per year. This would also include an additional $500 per month for people with a disability.
“I think that a big issue is that young people are concerned about future employment,” Christo Aivalis, SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto.
The idea of a basic income in Ontario was first conceived in March 2016, when the Ontario Budget decided to create a pilot project to test whether or not basic income would help in poverty as a long term solution.
Do you believe providing a guaranteed basic income would be good for the province? 
Aivalis says that this is popular with students because they are concerned about job security. “Will I have a job? But even if they are confident that they will have a job, will they have a job that provides pensions and benefits and a decent enough wage and hours to live on,” said Aivalis.
The first phase of the Ontario Basic Income Pilot began on June 2017. Participants for the project are being found in three different areas:
- Hamilton, Branford, Brant Country
- Thunder Bay, Municipality of Oliver Paipoonge, Township of Shuniah, Municipality of Neebing, Township of Conmee, Township of O’Connor, Township of Gillies
- Lindsay
“It’s just a good safety net to know that you will be able to have enough money for that year,” Megan Honan, third-year new media student at Ryerson University.
Students have reacted positively to this pilot, many of them believing that guaranteed income would provide security to students going through university.
“Eventhough OSAP has gotten better over the years, tuition is still really high, textbooks are a fortune and living downtown costs a lot, “said Honan.
However, there is a still a part of the student body that disagrees with having a guaranteed basic income in Ontario.
“I think it could be a benefit overall but I don’t think its fair that some people don’t have to work in order to have an income,” said Megan Honan, fourth-year journalism student at Ryerson University. “I think everyone should have to do their part as a Canadian citizen and add to the government by paying taxes.”
The Ontario Basic Income Pilot will be measured on how it might help people with low incomes meet their basic needs. This includes the general improvement on things such as food security, mental health and housing stability.
The Ontario government is investing $50 million of the province’s budget for each year of the three-year pilot project.
The poll was conducted by Ryerson School of Journalism students. They surveyed 567 full-time students at Ryerson University between Oct. 6 to Oct. 19. The poll carries a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
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