We often speak of SA国际影视传媒榖ack to normal,SA国际影视传媒� a SA国际影视传媒榬eset,SA国际影视传媒� or SA国际影视传媒榖efore the pandemic;SA国际影视传媒� however, was it that desirable?

Now is the time for a reset, a just recovery.

Meaning that the systemic issues, the societal injustices, the unattainable means to survive that have been highlighted over and again, these cannot be an acceptable part of our communities any further. No one can be or should be left behind.

We have this opportunity to address the most vulnerable individuals, families and communities. When the term SA国际影视传媒榩overtySA国际影视传媒� is mentioned, many think of extreme situations that happen thousands of miles away from this land called Canada. Sadly, we donSA国际影视传媒檛 have to look too far or beyond geographic borders to witness poverty.

Children going hungry to schools. Families unable to afford healthy nutritional food. A worker earning minimum wage unable to afford decent shelter. A woman choosing to stay in an abusive relationship because she canSA国际影视传媒檛 afford to leave.

The list is long and frankly, heartbreaking.

We see this every day and this could be anyone of us, a family member or friend. If you wonder who the faces of poverty are, those are the faces of poverty in our communities.

We, at any given moment, could find ourselves destitute SA国际影视传媒� in the North and across the country.

Here is how the World Bank Organization describes poverty:

SA国际影视传媒淧overty has many faces, changing from place to place and across time, and has been described in many ways. Most often, poverty is a situation people want to escape. So, poverty is a call to action SA国际影视传媒� for the poor and the wealthy alike SA国际影视传媒� a call to change the world so that many more may have enough to eat, adequate shelter, access to education and health, protection from violence, and a voice in what happens in their communities.SA国际影视传媒�

Working together to eradicate poverty is not an act of charity, itSA国际影视传媒檚 an obligation to restore and establish justice that has been undermined by systems oriented for the benefit of few. How can we work together to ensure that no one is left behind?

Guaranteed Basic or Livable Income is one of the solutions, and I believe that it will be the most effective one. Nationally, Canada needs the political will to implement Guaranteed Basic Income. Are we able to afford it? Yes.

When the federal government launched Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) last year, this gave a glimpse of hope that when emerging from the pandemic it could be turned to Guaranteed Basic Income that would help lift struggling Canadians out of poverty. However, CERB was not a Guaranteed Basic Income nor a pilot project to implement a program beyond COVID-19 responseSA国际影视传媒攁nd there were conditions to qualify. Workers were only eligible if they were out of work for specific reasons.

WhatSA国际影视传媒檚 Guaranteed Livable Income?

According to Evelyn Forget, the author of Basic Income for Canadians: From the COVID-19 Emergency to Financial Security for All, guaranteed, livable income ensures that SA国际影视传媒渁nyone with no other source of income would receive an amount sufficient to live a modest but dignified life. Anyone who works but still lives in poverty would receive a partial benefit.SA国际影视传媒�

This income is more than band-aid solution to help individuals with no or little source of income. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 meant to be a sustainable system.

This is not a partisan issue. Regardless of whether the proposed is Guaranteed Livable Income or Universal Basic Income the two have garnered support from politicians across the political spectrum.

If youSA国际影视传媒檙e wondering, what can you do to help advocate for basic income, there are resources on www.ubiworks.ca. On December 16, 2021, Member of Parliament Leah Gazan introduced Bill C-223, which if passed would establish the first national framework for a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income across Canada. This text was introduced by Senator Kim Pate, forming a coordinated effort from within the House of Commons and the Senate.

You can help by asking your Member of Parliament to vote yes on Bill C-223. Every voice count, sign the petition on UBI website and/or call your MP.

LetSA国际影视传媒檚 all work together to lift each other up. When we emerge from this pandemic, we should not be back to normal. We should emerge to a reality where no one is left behind.