It's time for a BIG conversation

Basic income guarantee, or BIG, is an unconditional cash transfer from government to all adults who earn less than a predetermined minimum income. (Our federal government currently has a basic income guarantee for people 65 and older, i.e. Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement.)

Do we need to have a conversation about a basic income guarantee in Nova Scotia? Fifteen municipalities think so. They are asking our provincial and/or federal government to implement, or determine the viability of, a BIG for all Nova Scotians who need it. The list of municipalities includes Halifax, Amherst, Pictou County, Annapolis County, Antigonish, Antigonish County, Yarmouth, Cumberland County, Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Colchester County, Truro and Kings County, inclusive of Wolfville, Kentville and most recently, Berwick. These municipalities represent 78 per cent of the population of the province.

You would think that our current provincial government would listen to the municipal representatives of 78 per cent of Nova Scotians; alas, no. There has not been one public statement from the provincial government on a municipality's request related to a BIG, no government committee has been asked to look at the idea, nothing. It is time our provincial government had a BIG conversation.

Would you like to have a BIG conversation? If so, I invite you to attend a free event on June 25 at 7 p.m. at the Al Whittle Theater (450 Main St., Wolfville). The 17-minute documentary A Human Picture will be shown and a moderated discussion on BIG will follow. The documentary shares the experiences of four of the participants in the 2017-2019 Ontario BIG pilot and provides expert insights and commentary.

This event is being brought to you by the Kings Co. Community Food Council, Eastern Kings Community Heath Board and Basic Income Guarantee - Nova Scotia.

For more information on the BIG conversation in Wolfville on June 25 email info@kccfoodcouncil.ca. To learn more about Basic Income Guarantee go online to big-NS.org

Roger Tatlock Wolfville, N.S.