Since 2015, Basic Income Nova Scotia (BIG-NS) has been a leader in the effort to educate and advocate for a Basic Income Guarantee (BIG) in Nova Scotia.

Our Mission

Basic Income Nova Scotia promotes informed, constructive public dialogue in advocating for a basic income guarantee in Nova Scotia and across Canada. We advocate for a BIG designed to respect indigenous self-determination and based upon the principles of autonomy, universality, unconditionality, dignity, universal responsibility, economic and social integrity, and gender equality.

What we do

Basic Income Canada Network engages in three interrelated activities:

Network: We connect with individuals, institutions and groups in Nova Scotia and Canada to build a more effective network of people whose commitment, expertise and action can make a difference. We strive to build support to make a basic income guarantee a reality in Canada.

Raise awareness: Through our website, social and mainstream media, presentations and conversations of all kinds, we provide evidence-based information to raise awareness about basic income, why it’s needed, and the impacts it would have.

Learn and share: We convene and participate in local and national conferences, workshops and other events where theory, research, advocacy and politics come together.


Write your MP, Senator, and MLA:

We encourage you to contact your government representatives through our letter writing campaign.

Annual Conferences:

We have successfully organized 4 one-day public conferences. In these conferences we bring together national and international experts to discuss various topics around a common Basic Income theme.

Meetings with Politicians:

We meet with local municipal, provincial and national politicians to advocate, inform and discuss a Basic Income.

Presentations:

Upon request we are happy to present to groups in Nova Scotia about Basic Income. We have presented to Mi’kmaq organizations, African Nova Scotian organizations, Community Health Boards, Public health Association of Nova Scotia, and at university conferences in the past. Please contact us if you wish to request a presentation.

Petition:

We organized a successful petition drive calling on Nova Scotia to conduct a feasibility study to determine how best to implement a basic income in the province. The petition, with approximately 1,000 signatures, was presented to the Provincial legislature.

Halifax Regional Municipality:

BIG-NS participated in the Halifax Regional Municipality poverty solutions strategy work, conducted in partnership with the United Way which culminated in a report called Building Poverty Solutions. A basic income was recommended in the report’s short- and long-term solutions to poverty.