GC31 Guaranteed Annual Income (1986G715)

WHEREAS the United Church of Canada has historically understood the Christian gospel to affirm the social nature of prosperity to be such that those who prosper have a responsibility to ensure that no human being goes without the necessities of life; and

WHEREAS since 1972 The United Church of Canada has advocated a policy of Guaranteed Annual Income as a method of insuring economic security for all persons in Canada that is more equitable and less expensive and complicated to administer than the numerous government support programs presently available; and

WHEREAS the MacDonald Commission has advocated the principle of a guaranteed annual income:

BE IT RESOLVED that this 31st General Council:

1. reaffirm United Church support of a Guaranteed Adequate Annual Income as the most efficient way of insuring that all Canadians will have a secure economic floor to stand on;
2. urge provincial governments to establish independent public reviews of the social assistance systems in their jurisdictions;
3. urge courts of the church, presbyteries and conferences to participate in provincial reviews of social assistance systems;
4. instruct the (church) to prepare an analysis of the future of work, and develop a Theological interpretation of the nature of work for the 32nd General Council.

1986 ROP, p. 120