Remembering Mincome

Yesterday I mentioned the Mincome experiment which took place in Dauphin, Manitoba from 1974 to 1978. Dr. Evelyn Forget of the University of Manitoba has been doing wonderful research on the long-term health and social benefits of Mincome. But Dr. Forget has been forced to rely on using anonymous health data for her research, rather than being able to interview participants in the experiment.

However, several months ago the Winnipeg Free Press tracked down some participants and asked them what they remember about the experiment. The answers are very interesting. Everyone stressed the fact that money was not welfare. It also wasn't about getting rich. For most families, it was a bit of extra money that helped them to get by. Even those who didn't receive the payments thought the program was a good idea.

"They should have kept it," one woman said. "It made a real difference."