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 Canada's Finance Minister to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income for all persons over 17.
Key Changes
- Requires the Minister of Finance to develop a national framework for a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income program
- Extends eligibility to all persons over 17, including temporary workers, permanent residents, and refugee claimants
- Mandates consultation with provincial governments, Indigenous elders, Indigenous governing bodies, and other stakeholders
- Requires the framework to define region-specific livable income amounts based on local cost of living
- Prohibits making participation in work, education, or training a condition of receiving the basic income
- Requires annual parliamentary reporting on the framework's effectiveness starting two years after the initial report
Gotchas
- This bill creates a planning and reporting obligation only — it does not establish or fund an actual basic income program
- The bill explicitly protects existing disability and health benefits, requiring that they not be reduced due to a future GLBI program
- Eligibility is broader than most existing social programs, explicitly including non-citizens such as temporary workers and refugee claimants
- No funding mechanism or cost estimate is included in the bill, leaving fiscal details to the framework development process
- The requirement to consult Indigenous elders and governing bodies reflects a commitment to Indigenous inclusion, but the bill does not specify how Indigenous-specific needs would be addressed differently
Who's Affected
- All Canadian residents over age 17, including citizens, permanent residents, temporary workers, and refugee claimants
- Low-income individuals and families living in poverty
- People with disabilities who currently rely on targeted benefits
- Provincial and territorial governments responsible for social programs
- Indigenous communities and governing bodies
- Federal Department of Finance
Vibes
0 responses
Gotchas
- This bill creates a planning and reporting obligation only — it does not establish or fund an actual basic income program
- The bill explicitly protects existing disability and health benefits, requiring that they not be reduced due to a future GLBI program
- Eligibility is broader than most existing social programs, explicitly including non-citizens such as temporary workers and refugee claimants
- No funding mechanism or cost estimate is included in the bill, leaving fiscal details to the framework development process
- The requirement to consult Indigenous elders and governing bodies reflects a commitment to Indigenous inclusion, but the bill does not specify how Indigenous-specific needs would be addressed differently
Summary
Bill C-253 directs the Minister of Finance to create a national framework for a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income (GLBI) program in Canada. The program would apply to everyone over the age of 17, including temporary workers, permanent residents, and refugee claimants. The bill does not create the income program itself — it requires the government to plan and design how such a program could work across the country. The framework must address how to define a 'livable' income for different regions, set national standards for health and social supports, and ensure that people do not need to work, study, or train in order to qualify. Importantly, it must also ensure that existing disability and health benefits are not reduced as a result of the new program. The bill was introduced by NDP MP Lori Idlout and reflects concerns about poverty, income inequality, and the need for economic security. The Minister must table a report on the framework within one year, and provide annual progress reports afterward.
Automatically generated from bill text using Claude
Vibes
0 responses