Even some conservatives support this idea, but we need to expand on it. 

The idea is that everyone in Canada should be provided a minimum level of income that is scaled back when people earn more, in a way that won’t discourage employment. This would provide a minimum standard of living, and eliminate much of the need for other income replacement programs. More details need to be worked out, because this only deals with the income side of things, and many programs provide other benefits but if we move in this direction, I think it could help people more because of reduced administration costs. We could possibly expand in other areas, such as drug and dental coverage for more people.

The problem I see with the way that this has typically been  proposed, is that the minimum income is always a year behind, so that if I required income support in 2011, I would be getting it this year in 2012. The poorest can’t wait that long. 

Some thoughts on improving:

• Benefits should be paid monthly.
• Every individual and family can opt out of the monthly benefit if they are confident that they won’t need it. Individuals and Families enrolled in the G.A.I. will receive a base amount per month. Those that opt out will have the yearly benefit calculated at tax time so that if they were eligible, they get a refund.
•  Expand on Payroll deductions so that this supplement would be included in calculations. Those that earn more, pay more  of the benefit back through tax. This gears the benefit to income, while ensuring people keep more of the benefit when they need it most. This would then be assessed at tax time.
•  Those that earn but aren’t employees with deductions would have the benefit calculated at tax time. 

These are some ideas, but I’m not entirely sure if they make sense or are doable, but I would like to see a move in this direction. I think it would be better for everyone. I hope more people will think about it.

Reading about cuts to the office of the Auditor General’s office here, reminded me of this song, here.

And that pretty well sums up our dearly beloved Conservative party of Canada, doesn’t it? “Responsibility, what’s that? Responsibility, not quite yet!” Any time they are about to be held responsible for some action,    they become masters of deception, distraction and defamation to shift attention away from their mistakes, misjudgments and misconduct.

That all works very well, but it is much easier to not even be held accountable in the first place. Why bother trying to explain, or distract, when it is much easier to leave things unquestioned in the first place?

Hence, the omnibus bill.

Hence, a reduction in audits.

Looking closer, the article reads, “the office will no longer audit how the Canada Revenue Agency and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency report their performance.”

Really?

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Wasn’t that agency recently cut?

After cutting 4% of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s staff, why would we want to audit their performance? That might prove that those cuts were wrong.

And why would the Conservatives want to deal with that?