Social Assistance Vision Paper Released and March Break Delayed

Province Outlines New Social Assistance Vision with Municipal Role Changes

Today the provincial government released a paper outlining a vision for social assistance transformation. The Province is proposing a significant change to the municipal social assistance delivery role.  A new division of labour would see the Province assuming responsibility for financial assistance administration. Municipal governments will focus on life stabilization services to people, including persons with disabilities. Employment services would be delivered by third party service system managers through the Employment Ontario network.

AMO has engaged in conversations and advocacy with successive provincial governments about social assistance transformation for decades. The discussions with the current government about the new vision are ongoing in a productive and collaborative manner. As part of the announcement, the Province is committing to working with municipal partners to co-design the implementation of the new vision over the next few years. This is welcome.

AMO will provide a more detailed note for members with an impact analysis of these changes in the coming weeks.

March Break Delayed   
      
As a method to reduce community COVID transmission, Ontario has announced that they are postponing March break until April 12-16, 2021.

It was noted that this challenging decision was made with the best advice of Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health and public health officials, including consultations with many local Medical Officers of Health.

AMO’s COVID-19 Resources page is being updated continually so you can find critical information in one place.  Please send any of your municipally related pandemic questions to covid19@amo.on.ca.