Canada is launching an experiment that will give 4,000 people free money until 2020
Finland, the Netherlands, and San Francisco, California, have already shown interest in giving people a regular monthly allowance — a system known as basic income.
Now Ontario, Canada, is planning a basic-income trial as well.
On Monday, Premier Kathleen Wynne outlined new details of the Ontario Basic Income Pilot, which is expected to begin later this spring and last for three years.
A total of 4,000 people in three regions in the province will begin receiving additional income based on their current salary.
A person in the trial can receive up to $16,989 a year, though the equivalent of 50% of any additional earned income will be subtracted from that figure. So a person who makes $10,000 a year at their job, for example, would receive $11,989 in basic income, for a total income of $21,989.
Eligible recipients, who must be between 18 and 64 and considered low-income, will be chosen through a randomized selection process.