To answer this question, “Has the enthusiasm for CERB paved the way for a Universal basic income?” one needs to understand what universal basic income is. Universal basic income is a strategy where every individual in a country receives a flat monthly payment. The payment is receivable to all citizens, even if they are working. However, some UBI outlines that the poor are the group that is supposed to receive the amount while others propose that it should be entitled to all regardless of whether they have a job or not.
CERB or Canada Emergency Response Benefit, which was established to help Canadians to make it through the Coronavirus pandemic, has paved the way for UBI. CERB was introduced to help Canadians who are underemployed and those unemployed to make it through Covid-19. This program will pave the road toward achieving a system that is equitable to all Canadians. This is the desire behind the UBI, which is to ensure equitable payment system to all citizens.
If the CERB were turned into, UBI would help Canadians perishing in poverty to continue living. The UBI would help them start small businesses that would help them make up for the losses incurred during the Covid-19 pandemic. CERB would abolish the existing poverty in Canada if it turned to last forever. The people will be able to afford basic needs as they wait to get jobs that suit them. This program would help the caregiver to stay at home without struggles of looking for a job. Additionally, CERB, if allowed to stay forever, would give people the freedom to return to school further their studies.
As in the article, CERB gave Rennie support to start a new business, and this means she would become independent. Additionally, if her business grows, she would employ other people. The business would create more employment that would add up to the country’s GDP.
Additionally, as can be seen in this article, employments are not always stable; in the case of Taylor, who was laid off as the company, he was working for a downturn due to fall in the oil prices that affected the company he was working for. There comes a time when businesses collapse due to the economic crisis. They tend to lay off some employees who do not have something to start a business. The laid-off employees become overwhelmed, and some of them may even develop depression.
Like CERB, UBI would help people like Taylor be resilient through hard times in the future. The payments stipulated in the UBI would also help stabilize the Canadian economy during the shock and thereafter. People would not struggle to recover to their regular living programs. Additionally, if CERB is turned into UBI, it would help young people start families. They would be guaranteed money to live up to. Though, they need to be birth rate conscious not to have more children than they could be able to support.
Additionally, people could have straightforward, simple financial aids. This is a means to minimize bureaucracy. Besides, the government would not struggle much to administer UBI than it does when administering traditional welfare.
In conclusion, CERB has shown that the government can adopt UBI. Turning Canada Emergency Response Program to Universal Basic Income is a logical progression. Extension of CERB would mean a basic income or a basic income is an extension of CERB. Thus, the CERB has opened eyes for those who advocate for a basic income, and thus CERB has paved the way for UBI.