C-253 (45-1) - National Framework for a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income Act
Chamber
commons
Stage
1st Reading
Introduced
Oct 29, 2025
Progress
This bill requires the Minister of Finance to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income for all Canadians over 17.
Key Changes
- Requires the Minister of Finance to develop a national framework for a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income within one year of the Act coming into force
- Extends eligibility to all persons over 17 in Canada, including temporary workers, permanent residents, and refugee claimants
- Mandates that the framework define a regionally appropriate 'livable' income based on the cost of necessary goods and services
- Prohibits making participation in work, education, or training a condition of receiving the basic income
- Requires that implementing a basic income must not reduce existing disability or health-related benefits and services
- Establishes annual reporting requirements to Parliament on the framework's effectiveness, starting two years after the initial report is tabled
Gotchas
- This bill only creates a planning and reporting obligation — it does not establish or fund an actual basic income program, meaning no payments would flow from this legislation alone
- The bill explicitly protects existing disability and health-related benefits, meaning a future program could not be used to justify cutting those supports
- Eligibility includes non-citizens such as temporary workers and refugee claimants, which is broader than many existing federal benefit programs
- The framework must account for regional cost-of-living differences, which could result in varying income levels across Canada
- No fiscal cost or funding mechanism is specified in the bill, leaving the financial design entirely to the framework development process
- As a Private Member's Bill, it faces a lower likelihood of passing without government support
Who's Affected
- All Canadian residents over age 17, including citizens, permanent residents, temporary workers, and refugee claimants
- People living in poverty or with low incomes
- People with disabilities who rely on existing government benefits
- Provincial and territorial governments responsible for social programs
- Indigenous communities and governing bodies
- Federal Department of Finance and related ministries
Vibes
0 responses
Gotchas
- This bill only creates a planning and reporting obligation — it does not establish or fund an actual basic income program, meaning no payments would flow from this legislation alone
- The bill explicitly protects existing disability and health-related benefits, meaning a future program could not be used to justify cutting those supports
- Eligibility includes non-citizens such as temporary workers and refugee claimants, which is broader than many existing federal benefit programs
- The framework must account for regional cost-of-living differences, which could result in varying income levels across Canada
- No fiscal cost or funding mechanism is specified in the bill, leaving the financial design entirely to the framework development process
- As a Private Member's Bill, it faces a lower likelihood of passing without government support
Summary
Bill C-253 directs the federal Minister of Finance to create a national framework for a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income (GLBI) program. This program would provide a basic income to all people in Canada over the age of 17, including temporary workers, permanent residents, and refugee claimants. The bill does not itself create or fund a basic income program — it only requires the government to develop a plan for one. The framework must define what a 'livable' income means in different regions of Canada, create national standards for health and social supports, and ensure that people do not need to work, study, or train in order to qualify. The Minister must consult widely, including with provincial governments, Indigenous elders and governing bodies, and experts in basic income programs. The bill was introduced by NDP MP Lori Idlout and is motivated by goals of reducing poverty, improving health and education outcomes, and supporting vulnerable people. It reflects ongoing debates in Canada about whether a universal basic income could replace or supplement existing social programs.
Automatically generated from bill text using Claude
Vibes
0 responses