STAY CONNECTED: Have the stories that matter most delivered every night to your email inbox. Subscribe to our daily local news wrap.

B.C. government’s poverty reduction plan could include a basic income

Oct 30, 2017 | 2:17 PM

VICTORIA — The British Columbia government is considering the implementation of a basic income to reduce poverty in the province.

Poverty Reduction Minister Shane Simpson says the government is consulting with Ontario and other jurisdictions on its plans for a pilot project testing to see if the idea would improve health, housing and job prospects.

Simpson says the government is also setting targets and laying out a timeline in an attempt to cut the poverty rate with a series of public consultations in 20 communities to help develop its plan.

The minister says the consultations will also allow the government to identify causes of poverty and approaches to reducing the number of poor.