EDITOR:
On P.E.I., there are 22,000 people living below the poverty line! That includes children, seniors and people with physical and mental disabilities. How can Islanders hear this and allow it to continue? We can’t. Having a Basic Income Guarantee in place will bring these people out of poverty and give them a better opportunity to contribute to the growth of our island.
Listening to retired Senator Hugh Segal Wednesday night was inspirational. Knowing that implementing Basic Income Guarantee will save taxpayer dollars and improve the health and well being of 22,000 Islanders should be evidence enough. One of the drawbacks voiced by many is - what about the people working in the social programs offered now? Well, those workers can actually help those Islanders get the proper help and services they need and spend less time “policing” their activities.
Let’s hope the King government will bring in Basic Income Guarantee so we can see the savings in tax dollars, but more importantly, save a large part of our population from poverty. We will all benefit from Basic Income Guarantee.
Leah-Jane Hayward is president of the New Democratic Party of Prince Edward Island.
