The NWT’s education, culture and employment minister says her department has “no plans to pursue” a basic income guarantee program in the territory.
NWT social and environmental justice coalition Alternatives North released a proposal earlier this month outlining a delivery model for a basic income guarantee in the territory.
The group said the program, in place of income assistance, could eliminate poverty and urged the NWT and federal governments to support the idea.
In a statement to Cabin Radio on Wednesday, employment minister Caitlin Cleveland said her department was reviewing the report and the “valuable insights” it provided.
She said, however, that the department has no plans to implement the proposal as it made improvements to the territory’s income assistance program in 2024.
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“The Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to delivering programs and services that help residents live their lives with dignity, reach their long-term goals, and benefit from opportunities in their communities,” she wrote.
“We appreciate the thoughtful research and analysis from Alternatives North as we continuously review our programs.”
Cleveland said her department provided an additional $5 million to income assistance and launched a new income assistance program for seniors and people with disabilities.
The minister said her department has developed a plan to monitor the changes to income assistance and will report on that work annually.
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Under Alternatives North’s proposed program, eligible residents would receive an unconditional transfer payment – a sum of money that tops up a person’s income to a fixed amount, based on the region where they live.
Previous NWT ministers have rejected similar basic income programs.
While some MLAs in the previous Legislative Assembly supported trying basic guaranteed income in the NWT, cabinet said it had no plans to explore such a project.
