Open letter from major conference on Guaranteed Liveable Basic Income in PEI (2025)

Canadians from across the country gathered in Prince Edward Island (PEI) earlier this month to discuss the importance of a Guaranteed Liveable Basic Income to invest in Canadians and stop spending tax dollars on measures that further victimize women and keep people ensnared in poverty and intimate partner violence.

Women’s Network PEI sponsored the ACT BIG Conference (Advocating Canada Toward Basic Income Guarantee) June 5-6, 2025, as part of a two-year project, Building a Feminist Coalition for Basic Income Guarantee, funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada. The national gathering brought together non-profit organizations, advocates, community members, and policymakers to explore the transformative potential of a basic income in advancing gender equity and economic justice.

PEI has made historic strides toward ending poverty by committing to a Guaranteed Liveable Basic Income (GLBI) in partnership with the federal government. Since 2020, PEI’s government and all legislative parties have voiced unwavering support for a basic income guarantee. After more than two years of dedicated work by economists, former MPs, policymakers, and advocates, a comprehensive and affordable proposal for a PEI GLBI demonstration project is ready to be implemented.

This isn’t just a theoretical plan—it’s a practical, evidence-based solution that could transform the social and economic safety net, including possibly replacing ineffective and fragmented welfare programs with a simpler, fairer system that lifts people out of poverty.

In September 2024, a federal-provincial working group was established to explore a 5- to 7-year GLBI demonstration project for PEI. Now is the moment to move from study to action.

Keynote speaker Senator Kim Pate reminded all present that, “PEI can lead Canada and the world in proving that a Guaranteed Liveable Basic Income will provide a powerful, affordable path to ending poverty and building a more just society for all. The time to act is now — let’s make basic income a reality for PEI and set a new standard for social and economic support throughout Canada!”

In response, all assembled issued a clarion call to the governments of PEI and Canada to seize this opportunity and launch the Guaranteed Liveable Basic Income demonstration project without delay.

Download this open letter to the Prime Minister (PDF) for a list of signatories including  CFSC.