Media Release
Children, Seniors and Social Development
An All-Party Committee on Basic Income has been established in response to the provincial and national discussion on a basic income and following a private member’s motion supported by all members of the House of Assembly on November 3, 2021. The committee will review basic income models and approaches and assess the viability and potential for reducing poverty in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The first meeting of the All-Party Committee on Basic Income took place on Thursday, November 24, 2022. The committee is being chaired by the Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development. Other committee members include:
- Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister Responsible for Labour;
- Sherry Gambin-Walsh, MHA for the District of Placentia-St. Mary’s;
- Craig Pardy, MHA for the District of Bonavista; and
- Jim Dinn, Interim Leader of the Third Party and MHA for the District of St. John’s Centre.
The next meeting of the All-Party Committee on Basic Income is scheduled for today (December 12, 2022).
The Terms of Reference of the All-Party Committee on Basic Income can be found in the backgrounder below.
Quotes
“I am pleased with the initial meeting held with members of the All-Party Committee on Basic Income. As a government, we remain committed to exploring and developing renewed approaches to addressing poverty, and to improve the social and economic well-being outcomes for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. I look forward to working with this committee on this important endeavour.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development
“After a productive initial meeting, I look forward to the next steps to exploring avenues to reduce poverty throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. As the cost of living continues to rise, this all-party committee is well timed. I look forward to working with the committee members to ensure strategies toward poverty reduction are explored, researched, and enacted in the future.”
Craig Pardy
MHA for the District of Bonavista
“I am pleased to see that government has decided to strike the All-Party Committee on Basic Income we called for in our Private Member’s Resolution. If we want to improve the social determinants of health, then we must address income. I look forward to working with members of the Committee to explore Basic Income as a tool to improve the social and economic well-being of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
Jim Dinn
Interim Leader of the Third Party and MHA for the District of St. John’s Centre
