Artist Elinor O’Donovan shared her experience with Ireland’s transformative basic income program, emphasizing how it significantly impacted her life and artistic endeavors. The three-year pilot initiative provided a weekly stipend to 2,000 artists and creative workers in Dublin, including O’Donovan. The positive outcomes led Ireland to make the program permanent, citing its societal benefits outweighing the costs.
In Canada, advocates for basic income are encouraged by Ireland’s success, hoping to push for a similar nationwide program. Despite evidence supporting the poverty-alleviating effects of basic income, economists caution against high expectations for its implementation in Canada.
Ireland’s government praised the Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot, highlighting its financial efficiency and significant social and economic benefits. The program’s costs were offset by increased arts engagement, higher tax revenues, reduced welfare payments, and improved well-being for participants.
Canadian artists have long advocated for a universal basic income, especially in the wake of the pandemic. They are inspired by Ireland’s example and aim for a comprehensive basic income system for all Canadians below a specific income threshold. The potential impact on poverty reduction has been recognized by the Parliamentary Budget Office.
While some Canadian provinces have experimented with basic income programs, national implementation faces challenges. The NDP’s efforts for a livable basic income bill have encountered obstacles, with economists suggesting that the current government’s focus on economic stability may delay broader social welfare initiatives. However, proponents like Berggold believe that a federal basic income program could serve as a nation-building initiative.