L'HONORABLE ART EGGLETON, C PSENATEURCANADA

SENATE

HONOURABLE ART EGGLETON, P.C.SENATOR

Special ReportTenth Annual North America Basic Income Guarantee Congress

New York City, February 25-27, 2011

I was invited to attend the Tenth Annual North American Basic Income Congress: Models for SocialTransformation, which was held in conjunction with the Annual meeting of the Eastern Economic Association.

Objective of the Trip

The main objective of the trip to New York was to attend the Basic Income Conference and learn more abouthow other countries deal with poverty.

I was invited by James Mulvale, PhD, RSW who is the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Social Work at theUniversity of Regina, due to my involvement in the Social Affairs, Science and Technology Committee's reporton poverty, housing and homelessness. I attended the fourteen sessions/panels over the three day period andwas a closing speaker on Sunday February 27th, along with Brazilian Senator Eduardo Suplicy.

Sessions/Meetings Attended February 25-27th

Friday, February 25, 2011

8:00-9:15Alfredo L. de Romaria, the University of Paris I (the Sorbonne), "The 'Political Graduation' of BasicIncome Entitlement Schemes: Sharing Nature, or the economic equivalent of a piece of land for everycitizen"

9:15-11:00 The Political Economy of Income Support, Part 1Sean Healy and Brigid Reynolds, "Ireland: Basic Income and the new Charter on Shared SocialResponsibility.Jenna van Draanen "The Political Potential for Income Inequality Policy Change in Canada" .Micheal Collins and Charles Clark "Modelling a Basic Income for Lesotho".

11:15-12:45 The Political Economy of Income Support, Part 2Andrea Vick, Ernie Lightman, & Andrew Mitchell, "Exploring Disability and Income Security: The (In)Significance of a Basic Income".Yannick Vanderborght, "Social Europe and Minimum Income Schemes: Recent trends in anti-povertypolicies within the European Union" .Ingrid Van Niekirk, "Review of Social Assistance Programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa".

.../2

Tel / Tèl: 1-800-267-7362Room / Piece 804 Edifice Victoria Building

Or I ou (613) 995-4230

Ottawa. ON K1A 0A4

Fax I Telec: (613) 995-4237egglea@sen.parl.gc.ca www.senatorarteggleton.ca

-2-

3:00-4:30 The Political Economy of Income Support, Part 3Jason Burke Murphy, "Little BIGs and Near BIGs — I-low can we assess less than perfect programs?How should we respond?"Al Sheahen, "The History of the Basic Income Guarantee in the United States"Dorothee Schulte-Basta, "The Closer It Gets - Boon and Bane of a Highly Sophisticated Debate onBasic Income"

4:45-5:35:Ovide Mercredi, Chief, Misipawistik Cree Nation, Former National Chief, Assembly of First Nations(Canada), "Paths to Economic Security for Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island"

5:40-6:30Rob Rainer, Executive Director, Canada Without Poverty, "Anti-Poverty Strategies and GuaranteedIncome: Reflections from Canada

Saturday, February 26, 2011

8:OOam-9:00 The Financial Cost of Eliminating PovertyMicheal Collins and Robert Ryan, "Costing the Elimination of Poverty in Ireland: An economist'sempirical exercise"Chandra Pasma, -Punishing Costs: Budget Priorities and Guaranteed Income"

9:15-10:45 Exporting the Alaska Model: Can the Resource-Dividend Work Elsewhere? Part 1Karl Widerquist, "Lessons from the Alaska Model"Almaz Zelleke, "Basic Income and the Alaska Model"Angela Cummine, "Overcoming the Anti-Dividend Bias: Why the World's SWFs are Not PayingDividends"

11:00am-12:30pm Exporting the Alaska Model: Can the Resource-Dividend Work Elsewhere? Part 2

John Murney & James P. Mulvale, "Resource Revenues as a Source of Basic Income: CanadianPossibilities"Michael W. Howard, "A Cap on Carbon and a Basic Income: A Defensible Combination in the U.S.?"Gary Flomenhoff, "Creating sovereign wealth in a state with no resource wealth-The Case of Vermont"

2:00-3:30 Exporting the Alaska Model: Can the Resource-Dividend Work Elsewhere? Part 3

Michael A. Lewis, "Risk And The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend"Alanna Hartzok, "A Global Resource Agency: can the Alaska model be applied on multinational orworldwide basis?"Jim Bryan and Sarah Lamarche, "The Political Requirements of a Resource-Based Basic IncomeGuarantee: Lessons from Alaska"

.../3

-3-

3:45-5:15 Libertarianism and Basic IncomeDaniel Layman, "Why There is No Lockean Right to a Basic Income"Nic Tideman, "The Morality and Justice of Redistributive Measures"Jeff Smith, "Land Equity: Public or private?"

5:30-7:00 Left and Right Views on the Basic Income GuaranteeCharles Murray, the American Enterprise InstituteStanley Aronowitz, the City University of New York

Sunday, February 27, 2011

8:OOam-9:30 Creating an Equitable Economic SystemAlfredo L. de Romaria, "Citizen Airtime: A Basic Cash or 'In-kind . Income Entitlement for TheDemocratization of Culture."Susmita Barua, "A Global Citizen's Manifesto: Basic Income as Basic Human Right"Dan O'Sullivan, "Jobs or Income Now"

9:45-11:00 Basic Income and the Global RecessionKelly Ernst and Gillian Steward. "Clues to Deepening Disparity: Continuing Impacts and Implicationsof the Economic Meltdown on Immigrants and Students"Charles M. A. Clark, "Basic Income as a way out of the Great Recession"

11:15am-12:45pmI was the closing speaker, along with Senator Eduardo Suplicy, from the Brazilian Federal Senate

2:30-3:30

Basic income Canada organizational meeting

Monday February 28, 2011

12:30-3:30

Meetings with Ms. Sigrid Kaag, Director of the Partnerships Bureau. UNDP and Christopher Williams,Director of the UN Habitat at the United Nations.

-4-

Achievements

While attending this conference I learned more about the Guaranteed Annual Income and its application invarious different countries. I also had the opportunity to talk to these international experts about Canadianpolicy on poverty.

Additionally, I was able to gather valuable information on International Urban Development when I met withMs. Sigrid Kaag, Director of the Partnerships Bureau, UNDP and Christopher Williams, Director of the UNHabitat.

Conclusion

While I am not a -disciple" of the Basic Income Guarantee, or Guaranteed Annual Income (GAI) as it is betterknown in Canada, it may well prove to be a key part of the answer to income security as it relates to poverty. Inthe report from the Social Affairs, Science and Technology Committee (which I Chair), In From the Margins: ACall to Action on Poverty, Housing and Homelessness, which was adopted by the Senate in 2010, there is arecommendation (#5) calling for a green paper study by the government on optional ways of dealing withincome security including a GAI based on a negative Income Tax. Hearing more about these concepts as theymay apply in both Canada and the United States and networking with people concerned about poverty issueswas valuable to me in my ongoing efforts to advance our Senate report.

Further details about each of the fourteen sessions can be found in the attached program of the event.

Respectfully submitted,

.../5

-j-

Tenth Annual North America Basic Income Guarantee CongressFebruary 24-28, 2011

Travel Expense Report

Airfare (Porter Airlines Toronto to New York City) $ 584.74

Hotel ( February 24-28. 2011 Sheraton New York) $ 895.28

Ground Transportation $ 133.00

Per Diem (February 24-28, 2011) $ 358.10

Total Expenses $1971.12

The Tenth Annual North America Basic Income Guarantee Congress: Program

February 25 — 27, 2010Sheraton New York Hotel, 811 Seventh Avenue at 53rd Street, New York, NY

Thursday, February 24, 2010: No formal events, suggestion: look for each other in the hotel bar.

Friday, February 25, 2010 (all sessions in room Liberty 5):8:OOam-9:15 NA-BIG SESSION 1: Opening Speakers

Moderator: Michael HowardMichael Howard. Welcome and IntroductionAlfredo L. de Romaria, the University of Paris I (the Sorbonne), "The PoliticalGraduation' of Basic Income Entitlement Schemes: Sharing Nature, or the economicequivalent of a piece of land for every citizen"

9:15-9:30 Break9:30-11:00 NA-BIG SESSION 2. The Political Economy of Income Support, Part 1

Moderator: Dorothee Schulte-BastaSean Healy and Brigid Reynolds, -Ireland: Basic Income and the new Charter onShared Social ResponsibilityJenna van Draanen "The Political Potential for Income Inequality Policy Change inCanada"Micheal Collins and Charles Clark "Modelling a Basic Income for Lesotho"

11:00-11:15 Break11:15am- NA-BIG SESSION 3. The Political Economy of Income Support, Part 212:45pm Moderator: Jason Burke Murphy

Andrea Vick, Ernie Lightman. & Andrew Mitchell, "Exploring Disability andIncome Security: The (In)Significance of a Basic Income"Yannick Vanderborght, -Social Europe and Minimum Income Schemes: Recenttrends in anti-poverty policies within the European Union"Ingrid Van Niekirk, "Review of Social Assistance Programmes in Sub-SaharanAfrica"

12:45-3:00 Lunch Break: (the EEA will have sessions, 1:15-2:45; this break is an opportunity toattend one of those sessions or to take lunch).

3:00-4:30 NA-BIG SESSION 4. The Political Economy of Income Support, Part 3Moderator: Ernie LightmanJason Burke Murphy, "Little BIGs and Near BIGs — How can we assess less thanperfect programs? How should we respond?"Al Sheahen, "The History of the Basic Income Guarantee in the United States"Dorothee Schulte-Basta, "The Closer It Gets - Boon and Bane of a HighlySophisticated Debate on Basic Income"

4:30-4:45 Break4:45-6:15 NA-BIG SESSION 5: Featured Speakers

Moderator: Al Sheahen4:45-5:35: Ovide Mercredi, Chief, Misipawistik Cree Nation, Former National Chief,Assembly of First Nations (Canada), "Paths to Economic Security for IndigenousPeoples of Turtle Island"5:40-6:30: Rob Rainer, Executive Director, Canada Without Poverty, "Anti-PovertyStrategies and Guaranteed Income: Reflections from Canada"

6:15 No session: This is an opportunity to see the EEA presidential address by PaulKrugman, "The profession and the crisis" (room Central Park)

Saturday,February 26, 2010 (all sessions in room Liberty 5):8:00am-9:00 NA-BIG SESSION 6: The Financial Cost of Eliminating Poverty

Moderator: Gary FlomenhoffMicheal Collins and Robert Ryan, "Costing the Elimination of Poverty in Ireland: Aneconomist's empirical exercise"Chandra Pasma, "Punishing Costs: Budget Priorities and Guaranteed Income"

9-9:15 Break9:15-10:45 NA-BIG SESSION 7: Exporting the Alaska Model: Can the Resource-Dividend

Work Elsewhere? Part 1Moderator: Jim BryanKarl Widerquist, -Lessons from the Alaska Model"Almaz Zelleke, "Basic Income and the Alaska Model"Angela Cummine, "Overcoming the Anti-Dividend Bias: Why the World's SWFs areNot Paying Dividends -

10:45-11:00 Break1 1 :00am-12:30pm

NA-BIG SESSION 8: Exporting the Alaska Model: Can the Resource-DividendWork Elsewhere? Part 2Moderator: Angela CummineJohn Murney & James P. Mulvale, "Resource Revenues as a Source of BasicIncome: Canadian Possibilities"Michael W. Howard, "A Cap on Carbon and a Basic Income: A DefensibleCombination in the U.S.?"Gary Flomenhoff, "Creating sovereign wealth in a state with no resource wealth-TheCase of Vermont"

12:30-2:00 Lunch break2:00-3:30 NA-BIG SESSION 9: Exporting the Alaska Model: Can the Resource-Dividend

Work Elsewhere? Part 3Moderator: Michael HowardMichael A. Lewis, -Risk And The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend"Alanna Hartzok, "A Global Resource Agency: can the Alaska model be applied onmultinational or worldwide basis?"Jim Bryan and Sarah Lamarche, "The Political Requirements of a Resource-BasedBasic Income Guarantee: Lessons from Alaska -

3:30-3:45 Break3:45-5:15 NA-BIG SESSION 10: Libertarianism and Basic Income

Moderator: Karl WiderquistDaniel Layman, "Why There is No Lockean Right to a Basic Income"Nic Tideman, -The Morality and Justice of Redistributive Measures"Jeff Smith, "Land Equity: Public or private?"

5:30-7:00 NA-BIG SESSION 11 : Plenary Session: Left and Right Views on the Basic IncomeGuaranteeModerator: Almaz ZellekeCharles Murray, the American Enterprise InstituteStanley Aronowitz, the City University of New York

8:30pm: Conference Dinner: Republic 37 Union Square West (approximately $25 per person)reservations required by 12pm Feb. 24. For reservation, contact Karl Widerquist (504-261-0891)<Karl@widerquist.com >.

Sunday, February 27, 2010 (all sessions in room Liberty 5):8:OOam-9:30 NA-BIG SESSION 12: Creating an Equitable Economic System

Moderator: Lukwago BakerAlfredo L. de Romaiia, "Citizen Airtime: A Basic Cash or 'In-kind' IncomeEntitlement for The Democratization of Culture."Susmita Barua, "A Global Citizen's Manifesto: Basic Income as Basic Human Right"Dan O'Sullivan, "Jobs or Income Now"

9:30-9:45 Break9:45-11:00 NA-BIG SESSION 13: Basic Income and the Global Recession

Moderator: Dan O'SullivanKelly Ernst and Gillian Steward, "Clues to Deepening Disparity: Continuing Impactsand Implications of the Economic Meltdown on Immigrants and Students"Charles M. A. Clark, "Basic Income as a way out of the Great Recession-

11:00-11:15 Break11:15am- NA-BIG SESSION 14: Closing Speakers12:45pm Moderator: Jim Mulvale

(This session will begin with a brief announcement about Basic Income Studies)Senator Eduardo Suplicy, The Brazilian Federal SenateSenator Art Eggleton, the Canadian Federal Senate

12:45-2:30 Lunch break2:30-3:30 Organizational meetings of NA-BIG's supporting networks:

USBIG organizational meetingModerator: Michael HowardBasic Income Canada organizational meetingModerator: Jim Mulvale

After the last meeting, everyone is invited to reconvene casually in the hotel bar.