Canada's Advocate for Basic Income

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Mail This To Your MP Why Basic Income Works

Cheaper Than Poverty

A national basic income could cost just 3% of government spending

With no new taxes on working Canadians, a guaranteed basic income saves us from the even higher costs of poverty.

See the Quick Facts Cheaper Than Poverty

The Economic Case

Grow Canada's economy $80B a year and create 600K jobs

A national guaranteed income could lift millions out of poverty while it grows the economy more than it costs.

Read the Research CEOs for Basic Income

A Floor for the AI Economy

The #1 choice for AI and job automation

Polling shows Canadians rank basic income first to address AI wiping out jobs. It's how we ensure everyone has a stake in our automated future.

Join the Movement Watch the Interviews

100,000+Supporters across Canada and around the world

180+Canadian CEOs and business leaders signed on

$1.06Social return for every $1 invested in basic income

338Federal ridings reached with emails to MPs

Quick Facts

What Basic Income is, and why it works

We are for an unconditional guaranteed basic income to keep people out of poverty and build a Canada where everyone can pursue their potential.

Saves taxpayers money

Cheaper Than Poverty

A national guaranteed basic income could cost just 3% of total government spending with no new taxes on working Canadians, saving us from the even higher costs of poverty.

People work and build

It Does Not Discourage Work

PBO estimated a 1% impact on hours worked. During the Ontario pilot, 1/3 of workers found higher paying jobs, 1/3 said it supported their work or building a business, and 1/3 went back to school.

Grows the economy

Create 600K Jobs

A national guaranteed income could grow Canada's economy $80B per year and create 600K jobs, while lifting millions out of poverty.

Healthier people

Physically and Mentally

People smoke and drink less, eat healthier food, exercise more, reduce doctor visits, and experience less anxiety and depression.

Broad support

Across the Political Spectrum

Many prominent liberals, conservatives, and moderates support basic income. It is not left or right, it is forward.

The future of work

Top Choice for AI Automation

Polling shows Canadians rank basic income as the #1 choice to address AI wiping out jobs. It is how we build a floor for workers and ensure everyone has a stake in our automated future.

Basic Income Explained

The case, in plain language

We research, publish, educate, connect, and facilitate activism through a network of 100,000+ supporters.

Explainer

GBI vs. UBI

What a guaranteed basic income is, how it differs from a universal payment, and why the design matters for Canada.

Families

Income for Families

We commissioned the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis to study a basic income for families: it grows the economy, creates jobs, and lowers poverty.

Business leaders

CEOs for Basic Income

Over 180 Canadian CEOs and business leaders, representing $1.5B in revenues and 5,300+ staff, have signed a letter calling for a permanent basic income.

Our Vision

A world where everyone can pursue their potential and is not held back by basic material constraints or unsafe environments. Realize the compassionate potential of a human-centred economy to end poverty, reduce violence, and secure our personal freedoms.

UBI Works

Watch

The conversation Canadians are having

Our interview with Canada's Nobel Laureate “Godfather of AI” Dr. Geoff Hinton, plus more from the campaign.

Basic income and the future of work

The economic case, explained

Why this is a movement, not a moment

Our Story

Founded by a CEO who built the business case

Floyd Marinescu is the founder of UBI Works and CEO and co-founder of C4Media. Together with Paul Vallée, he organized 120 Canadian CEOs, representing $2.3B in annual revenues, to sign a letter in support of reinstating the Ontario Basic Income Pilot.

Technology and globalization have transformed work, creating immense opportunities but uneven gains. Basic income is an economic floor: it defends equality of opportunity, buys people time to secure housing and escape food insecurity, and unlocks the freedom to take risks, retrain, and build.

We research, publish, educate, connect, and facilitate activism with everyday Canadians, volunteers, and partner organizations.

Our Journey

Milestones in the movement

2018

120 CEOs sign on

Founder Floyd Marinescu organized 120 Canadian CEOs, representing $2.3B in annual revenues, to support reinstating the Ontario Basic Income Pilot.

2019

First Basic Income March

We organized the first ever Basic Income March in Toronto, joining more than 20 cities around the world on October 26 to march in support of basic income.

2020

Emergency Basic Income petition

We launched a petition for an Emergency Basic Income, garnering over 30,000 signatures and emails to MPs in all 338 federal ridings the week before emergency benefits were announced.

2021

Candidate pledges

During the federal election, 189 candidates across 3 parties and 46% of ridings took the pledge to actively support basic income. 40+ pledged advocates were elected.

2022

Bills S-233 & C-223

We launched a national activist campaign supporting the Guaranteed Livable Basic Income bills from Senator Kim Pate and MP Leah Gazan. Over 30,000 emails were sent across every riding.

Today

180+ CEOs, growing coalition

Over 180 Canadian CEOs and business leaders, representing $1.5B in annual revenues and 5,300+ staff, have signed a letter calling for a permanent basic income in Canada.

A broad coalition of Canadian leaders, organizations, and municipalities

180+ CEOs & business leaders

Basic Income Canada Network

Coalition Canada

University of Saskatchewan research

Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis

Senator Kim Pate

MP Leah Gazan

MP Julie Dzerowicz

Municipalities for Basic Income

180+ CEOs & business leaders

Basic Income Canada Network

Coalition Canada

University of Saskatchewan research

Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis

Senator Kim Pate

MP Leah Gazan

MP Julie Dzerowicz

Municipalities for Basic Income

See who supports basic income

In Their Words

Why people back basic income

“Basic income is an economic floor, ensuring security and freedom for all. It defends equality of opportunity in a world where technological disruptions are reducing incomes for many.”

UBI Works · The future of work

“As an innovation policy, it recaptures our risk tolerance, unlocking the opportunity for everyone to take risks and think long-term, leading to new careers, higher education, and new businesses.”

UBI Works · An innovation policy

“By abolishing poverty and reducing human suffering, basic income allows us to build a future where everyone has the chance to pursue their potential.”

UBI Works · Our vision

Meet Our Team

The people behind the work

Researchers, advocates, and storytellers building the case for a human-centred economy.

Floyd Marinescu

Founder

Founder of UBI Works and CEO and co-founder of C4Media. A CEO advocate for universal basic income who organized 120 Canadian CEOs to endorse basic income in Canada.

Ben Earle

General Manager

Supports day-to-day operations with over 15 years in non-profit development and management, focused on the changing economy and the future of work.

Ken Yang

Media & Campaigns

Oversees media production, publication, and national campaigns. Publishes on post-labour economics, sovereign wealth funds, AI, and housing. JD/MBA, University of Toronto.

Olivia Jol

Strategy & Advocacy

An anthropologist by study with published works on Canadian indigeneity and the history of capitalism. Formerly the youngest senior director at a Canadian public company.

Liam Wilkinson

Public Relations

Public Relations Strategist and Managing Editor, crafting narratives that highlight the economic and social justice case for basic income in Canada.

Richard Pereira

Advisor & Economist

Economist and researcher in labour studies and ecological economics. Author of Financing Basic Income (Palgrave 2017) and a National Essay prize winner.

Philippe Chabot

Adviser & Researcher

UBI adviser, researcher, and artist tracking global and Canadian basic income news, especially on the technology side, and creating content to push the idea toward reality.

Tom Pogson

Writer & Volunteer

A writer and musician based in Victoria, BC, advocating for basic income since 2020 with UBI Works and Basic Income British Columbia.

Paul Walsh, Q.C.

Advisor

Lawyer, businessman, and property developer. Former Chair of Basic Income Manitoba and a Canadian debating champion with deep community board experience.

Take Action

Be part of a growing national movement

Join 100,000+ Canadians supporting basic income. Sign up for updates from UBI Works and make a 2-minute impact.

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