As jurisdictions in the United States and Canada (and elsewhere) consider launching their own basic income experiments, this round table discussion reviews the ethics surrounding the launch, roll-out and cancellation of the Ontario pilot. Panelists examine the concept of informed consent and what legal protections should be in place to protect future basic income pilot participants in any future experiments involving people in vulnerable conditions.

The Cancellation of the Basic Income Pilot in Ontario:  A Discussion from the Perspective of Participant Vulnerability(ies) by Craig Foye

Craig Foye is a Senior Human Rights Officer at McMaster University.  He is a lawyer by profession (although not currently practicing) and a candidate for a master’s degree in philosophy at McMaster University, whose focus is on legal philosophy, human rights, and philosophies of poverty.  Prior to joining McMaster, Craig practiced law at a community legal clinic for approximately 15 years.  Craig has spoken in a range of settings from administrative tribunals and appellate courts, to academic conferences, to all levels of government from local municipal government to a committee of the United Nations.

Dana Bowman was a recipient of basic income and now one of four litigants in the law suit against the governments early cancelation of the Ontario pilot program.  Dana lives in Lindsay (K9V area code) that was one of three sites chosen.  Dana is a community volunteer, board member for social housing, a thrilled grandparent of four, and spends her day to day life with her pug, Bane.

Mike Perry A lawyer and social worker by profession, Mike advocated to bring the basic income pilot project to Lindsay, Ontario then represented participants pro-bono in the legal cases against the government of Ontario over its cancellation. Mike is past Executive Director of the City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team and was honoured as Citizen of the Year in 2017. Mike is an award-winning instructor at Trent University where he teaches the role of law in Canada and is completing his Ph.D. in Canadian and Indigenous Studies. Mike is a citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario.

The Ethical & Legal Pitfalls of Basic Income Pilots: A Case Study from Ontario