Bill C-253 Guaranteed Livable Basic Income Act
C-253 An Act to Develop a National Framework for a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income
Short Title: National Framework for a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income Act
Bill Type: Private Member’s Bill
Bill Sponsor: Lori Idlout (Nunavut)
Status: Introduced — October 29, 2025. This Bill hasn't passed yet.
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WHO GAINS POWER
- The Minister of Finance gains authority to define what constitutes a "livable basic income" for each region in Canada
- The Minister gains broad consultation authority over provincial governments, Indigenous governing bodies and other stakeholders
- Parliament gains annual reporting requirements to review the framework's effectiveness
WHO LOSES POWER
- Provincial governments lose some autonomy — national standards for health and social supports would guide provincial implementation
- No person or body is explicitly stripped of authority but provincial jurisdiction over social programs is directly implicated
WHO GAINS MONEY
- Every person over 17 in Canada — including temporary workers, permanent residents and refugee claimants — would gain access to a guaranteed livable basic income if the framework is implemented
- No funding is allocated in this Bill — it only requires a framework to be developed
WHO LOSES MONEY
- Nothing in this Bill allocates or removes funding — cost is entirely undefined
THE CATCH
- ⚠️ "Livable basic income" is not defined in the Act — the Minister defines it by regulation for each region and can change the definition at any time without a vote
- ⚠️ This Bill does not create a program — it requires the Minister to develop a framework within one year. The program itself, its cost and its funding mechanism are left entirely to future Legislation
- ⚠️ No dollar amount, eligibility threshold or funding source is specified — Parliament is being asked to approve a framework process, not a program
- ⚠️ Provincial jurisdiction — income support and social programs are largely provincial. The Bill consults provinces but does not resolve the constitutional question of federal authority to implement a national program
- ⚠️ Participation in education or labour market cannot be required — the Bill explicitly prohibits work or training requirements as a condition of eligibility, which is a significant policy choice embedded in the framework mandate
- ⚠️ Includes temporary workers, permanent residents and refugee claimants — broader eligibility than most existing federal income programs, with no cost analysis attached