Feminist Coalition calls for Basic Income Guarantee in federal party platforms

Organizations co-signed letter urging all federal political parties to commit to BIG as clear policy priority

Thursday, April 17, 2025

A new coalition of feminist organizations from across Canada is coming together to push for a Basic Income Guarantee (BIG) to be a priority in the upcoming federal election.

More than a dozen organizations, including groups based in Prince Edward Island, have co-signed a joint letter urging all federal political parties to commit to BIG as a clear policy priority. The coalition emphasizes that BIG is not just good policy — it’s a vital step toward gender equity, economic justice, and human rights.

“Poverty is a policy choice,” the letter states. “A Basic Income Guarantee is a concrete way to address growing inequality, economic uncertainty, and gender-based violence, especially as tariffs and instability continue to put pressure on families.”

The coalition is clear: BIG wouldn’t replace wages or existing social programs, but rather strengthen them. The goal is to ensure that no one falls through the cracks.

The letter points to PEI as a leader in the push for BIG. All political parties in the province have voiced support for a Basic Income Guarantee, and a Federal-Provincial working group is already exploring a potential 5–7-year demonstration project for the Island. The coalition is now calling on federal leaders to build on this momentum and work with provinces and territories to make BIG a reality for all Canadians.

“A fairer, more inclusive Canada is possible,” says Jillian Kilfoil, Executive Director of Women’s Network PEI, one of the co-signing organizations. “We’re calling on every party to show leadership by putting BIG in their platform.”

You can read the full letter and see the list of signatories here.

For more background on Basic Income Guarantee and how it could work in Canada, visit the PEI Basic Income Report.