Implementing a basic income in Canada to improve health and reduce poverty

Offering a guaranteed annual income to reduce poverty and improve health is not a new idea in Canada, but it is once again on the political radar. Dr. Evelyn Forget and Dr. Danielle Martin explain why Canada should consider implementing a basic income. Professor Evelyn Forget is a health economist at the University of Manitoba. Her re-examination of Mincome and ongoing work on Guaranteed Annual Income is supported by CIHR and SSHRC. Danielle Martin is a family physician, Vice President at Women’s College Hospital and an advisor with EvidenceNetwork.ca Interview by Mélanie Meloche-Holubowski, journalist intern at EvidenceNetwork.ca, and journalist with Radio-Canada. The Evidence Network of Canadian Health Policy, commonly known as EvidenceNetwork.ca, is a Canadian healthcare resource designed with the needs of journalists in mind. The project links journalists with health policy experts to provide access to credible, evidence-based information. We also create original OpEds, articles, podcasts, infographics, posters and videos on health policy topics for publication in the mainstream media.