S-233 – Universal Basic Income

Dear Senators,

I’m writing in response to Bill S-233 – An Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income that is currently before the Senate. The intention of ensuring a basic income for all Canadians is an admirable goal. I think most Canadians would be in support of ensuring the security of a basic income for all. However, I have some questions.

Questions

1. How is this initiative different than our current systems of support, such as unemployment benefits, welfare, old age security, disability benefits, etc. What is the need that isn’t being met by the current systems?
2. What is the impetus for this initiative?
3. How will the effectiveness of this initiative be measured?
4. The proposed bill states that “participation in education, training or the labour market is not required in order to qualify for a guaranteed livable basic income.” What is the potential that this initiative might serve as a disincentive to healthy young Canadians to pursue education, training, or participate in the labour market? Might this initiative actually increase the dependency of young people on government funding and negatively impact growing strong and independent Canadians?
5. What is unstated in the bill’s description is what will be required to qualify for a guaranteed livable basic income. One of the concerns of Canadians, especially given the recent actions of governments in knowingly violating Canadian’s Charter rights and freedoms, is how this system might be used to impose a political agenda upon Canadians. For example, will a future requisite be the imposition of vaccine mandates, as we witnessed with the COVID injections?
6. What safeguards will be in place to ensure that bodily sovereignty, personal belief, political preferences, religious beliefs, and medical choice are respected? In short, how will our charter of rights and freedoms be safeguarded under this initiative?
7. What is the anticipated cost of such a program? Given the substantial debt of the Federal government, where will these funds come from? Or will this expense simply increase the already burgeoning debt?
8. In developing the framework, why must the Minister of Finance consult with the Minister of Health? This underscores the concern raised above that a future requirement will be vaccine mandates.
9. What process/safeguards will be in place to change the UBI qualifications once made into Law? Canadians could be negatively affected after relying on the UBI and then having additional conditions placed upon them without due process.

Concerns

Given the actions of the Federal government over the last two years, most especially and most recently the freezing of the bank accounts of law-abiding citizens, Canadians are increasingly distrustful that governments in Canada are acting lawfully and in their best interest.

There is increasing concern about the Federal government relinquishing its sovereignty and decision-making authority and simply following the dictates of the WHO, WEF, and other non-elected global actors. The proposed WHO Global Pandemic Agreement is an example of this concern.

Finally, Canadians are deeply concerned with the advancement of a planned digital ID, digital currency, and its pairing with a social credit score system as is already operational in China and North Korea. The UBI appears to be a further step in this direction. How can we ensure that the digital control of Canadians will not occur?

While the universal basic income may be well-intended, many Canadians fear it is a Trojan Horse, intended to undermine and eventually bring about the downfall of freedom in Canada. In this case, the cost of a guaranteed basic livable income is too high.

In my mind, there are too many unknowns to pass this bill at this time.

Sincerely,
Ted Kuntz