THUNDER BAY -- The Liberals and local MP Patty Hajdu are still opposed to taking over the basic income pilot project scrapped by the provincial government in August, but are looking for other ways to help low-income workers.
“We have no intentions of picking up the basic income pilot,” Hajdu told tbnewswatch.com on Thursday. “Having said that we’re always looking at ways we can strengthen everybody's chance at success.”
The topic has made its rounds in the national media landscape after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and economics minister Jean-Yves Duclos said in seperate interviews that providing a basic income is something the federal government is looking at.
The basic income pilot project was set to run for three years, providing payments to 4,000 low-income people in communities including Thunder Bay.
On Nov.10, protesters descended on the office of Hajdu in the hopes that she could help revive the project.
However, Hajdu said there was little she could do about reviving a provincial project, and also mentioned a basic income project may not be the right approach.
While the former remains true, Hajdu has slightly changed her tone to match her government's position.
“We’re always looking for ways we can improve outcomes for everybody,” she said. “Income security is important to us.”
Hajdu also pointed to the Canada Child Benefit as an example of a federal government program that has helped low-income Canadians, specifically in Hajdu’s riding.
“In our riding alone, 12,000 children benefit from that. It’s something that puts money in the hands of those who need it the most.”
Hajdu will run for re-election next October.
