Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley (BlackburnNews.com file photo by Melanie Irwin)Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley (BlackburnNews.com file photo by Melanie Irwin)
Sarnia

Sarnia-Lambton Not Among Minimum Income Test Sites

Sarnia-Lambton has not been selected as a host municipality for a pilot project on a provincial guaranteed minimum income.

Residents of the Lindsay, Thunder Bay, Brantford and Hamilton areas will be the first to receive a guaranteed minimum income in a three-year project.

Although disappointed that Sarnia was not successful, Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley is happy to see the province take action.

"The reality is that the current system is not working," he says. "I think everyone would agree the minimum income system does work and effectively moves people from one side of the misery index to a better place. This is worth experimenting with and I'm pleased the province is moving forward on the project, even if it isn't in Sarnia Lambton."

Premier Kathleen Wynne announced details of the project Monday in Hamilton.

The government consulted former senator Hugh Segal for advice on the pilot project.

He said the basic income should replace Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program payments, but be slightly more generous, and it should come with less monitoring and administration than those programs.

A single person would get just under $17,000 a year.

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