Ontario Basic Income Pilot
The Ontario Basic Income Pilot was a Government of Ontario program that provided monthly guaranteed income payments to about 4,000 low-income adults aged 18-64 in Hamilton, Brantford/Brant County, Thunder Bay, and Lindsay, testing effects on poverty, health, and employment. It was funded entirely by the provincial government and offered up to CAD $16,989/year for singles and $24,027/year for couples, reduced by 50 cents per dollar earned, plus a disability supplement of up to $6,000/year. Launched in 2017 under the Liberal government with a planned three-year run, it was cancelled early by the newly elected Progressive Conservative government in August 2018, with final payments made in March 2019. The abrupt cancellation prompted a class-action lawsuit by former participants against the province.
Guaranteed Income, Randomized Control Trial, Canada, Ontario, Cancelled Pilot, Class Action Lawsuit
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Government of Ontario
- City
- Toronto
- State / Province
- Ontario
- Country
- Canada
Contact
- Phone
- +1 844-217-4516
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 4,000
- Funding type
- Government
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- CAD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 36 months
- Distribution Type
- Direct Deposit
- Benefit details
Payments were deposited monthly, calibrated so a single participant could receive up to CAD $16,989/year and a couple up to $24,027/year, reduced by 50 cents per dollar of earned income. Participants with disabilities could receive an additional supplement of up to $6,000/year. EI or CPP income reduced the basic income dollar-for-dollar, while child-related benefits were exempt. Planned to run three years, but the incoming government announced a 'compassionate wind-down' in August 2018, roughly 10 months after payments began, with final payments issued March 2019.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Eligible participants were randomly selected individuals aged 18-64 living on a low income (roughly under $34,000/year singles, $48,000/year couples) who had resided in a pilot community for at least 12 months. Applicants were invited via random mail-outs; a comparison/control group who did not receive payments also answered research surveys. People already receiving Ontario Works or ODSP cash assistance had to leave those programs to receive the basic income, though continued to receive Ontario Drug Benefit and, for ODSP recipients, dental benefits.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 18
- Maximum age
- 64
Health
- Disability status
- Yes
Financial
- Income limit (annual household)
- $48,000
- Currently receiving government benefits
- Disqualifying
- Banked status
- Banked
Citizenship
- Minimum Years In Jurisdiction
- 1 years
Geography
- Countries covered
- Canada
- Cities covered
- Hamilton, Brantford, Thunder Bay, Lindsay
- Counties covered
- Brant County
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
- Minimum Years A Resident of Target Geography
- 1 years
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Required
- Research / participation requirements
A third-party research consortium was appointed to evaluate effects on food security, housing stability, stress/anxiety, mental health, health care usage, education/training, and employment. Both recipients and the non-paid control group were required to respond to research surveys. The province's own research program was cancelled along with the pilot in 2018, but independent researchers at McMaster University later collected participant data and published the 'Southern Ontario Basic Income Experience' report in 2020.
Application Process
- How to apply
Randomly selected residents in the four pilot communities received application invitation packages by mail and typically had three to four weeks to apply. The province also held in-person information and application sessions and later opened enrollment more broadly. A dedicated phone line and email provided applicant support.
- Selection process
Eligible applicants who responded to the invitation were randomly assigned to either receive basic income payments or serve in an unpaid comparison/control group. The control group did not receive payments but answered periodic questions on health, work, and housing for research comparison.
