Canadian province votes to trial Universal Basic Income
As technology automates more jobs governments around the world are trialling UBI as a means to potentially mitigate social unrest and increasingly inequality
Key takeaways
- Prince Edward Island, the smallest Canadian Province, has been described as the best choice for the pilot due to its diminutive size and clear boundaries.
- Green Party leader in Prince Edward's legislature, Peter Bevan Baker, proposed the motion with support of all three other parties.
- The national Canadian government will use the pilot to weigh up the benefits against the heavy costs and will lay out their plans in detail early next year.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2016) 'Canadian province votes to trial Universal Basic Income', 311 Institute, 9 December. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/canadian-province-votes-to-trial-universal-basic-income/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
In the face of growing automation which many governments and analysts believe will lead to a rapid rise in global unemployment levels a Canadian province has unanimously voted in favour of trialling a Universal Basic Income (UBI), a form of social security where all the citizens of a given state or country are guaranteed to regularly receive a sum of money in addition to the money they earn elsewhere.
As a concept UBI is naturally controversial which is why most governments, such as Finland, Holland, Japan, Scotland, the UK and USA are taking baby steps and voting on whether or not to run limited trials.
Prince Edward Island, the smallest Canadian Province, has been described as the best choice for the pilot due to its diminutive size and clear boundaries.
According to the successful bill, every citizen will receive a basic income in an attempt to reduce or "potentially eliminate poverty in the province".
Green Party leader in Prince Edward's legislature, Peter Bevan Baker, proposed the motion with support of all three other parties.
"A universal basic income could enable the greatest unleashing of human potential ever seen" said Bevan Baker.
The bill stated positive effects of UBI could include improved local economic growth, supporting entrepreneurship, reduced administrative complexity and costs, improved working conditions, reduced crime, improved health, and help to build vibrant rural communities."
The Green Party leader has admitted there are potential drawbacks to UBI such as the overall the cost of the scheme and whether it will deter unemployed people looking for work.
"This is exactly why we need a pilot project, so we can evaluate whether the benefits outweigh the costs," he said.
The national Canadian government will use the pilot to weigh up the benefits against the heavy costs and will lay out their plans in detail early next year.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
As technology automates more jobs governments around the world are trialling UBI as a means to potentially mitigate social unrest and increasingly inequality
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
- 83.pdf assembly.pe.ca
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 9 December 2016. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2016). Canadian province votes to trial Universal Basic Income. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/canadian-province-votes-to-trial-universal-basic-income/
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