A regional consortium of senior municipal governments will manage Bruce-Grey's employment services, part of the Ontario government's consolidation of existing programs into Employment Ontario.
From a September media release announcing the melding of the job-finding assistance services of the Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program: "Each region of the province will be overseen by a system manager responsible for delivering employment services in the catchment areas, managing existing service providers with performance-based financial incentives, and improving outcomes for jobseekers."
Bruce County will serve as the consortium lead, and has provided a media release:
After a multistage competitive process, the Ontario Government announced that the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Employment Services Consortium has been selected as the regional Employment Services system manager (SSM). The announcement came as part of a broader provincial announcement related to Employment Services Transformation.
Each region of the province will be overseen by a system manager, which is responsible for delivering employment services in the catchment areas, managing existing service providers with performance-based financial incentives, and improving outcomes for jobseekers.
The Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Employment Services Consortium, which includes Bruce County, Grey County, Huron County, and the City of Stratford (Perth County), will provide funding, support, and oversight for the region’s employment services network. The transition to full implementation will occur over the upcoming year, with Bruce County serving as the lead in this Consortium.
Building on the strengths of the existing employment services network, which helps people prepare for and find employment, the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Employment Services Consortium will foster a collaborative, efficient system to meet the needs of diverse local job seekers and employers. This includes individuals receiving social assistance, individuals with disabilities, youth with higher support needs, and individuals who are new to the region. This new approach will be more responsive to local labour market needs and drive results for job seekers, employers, and communities.
“The opportunity for local employment services leadership represents an exciting milestone for the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula economic region. This will enable us to work closely with local employment service providers and community partners to respond to the diverse needs of job seekers and employers across the region,” said Bruce County Warden Janice Jackson, speaking on behalf of the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula Employment Services Consortium.
The estimated annual budget allocation from the province for employment services for the Stratford-Bruce Peninsula economic region is $9.8 million, with an estimated client volume of approximately 5,000 individuals.
Read the Ontario Government’s announcement:
“In the middle of the greatest labour shortage in a generation which is increasing the cost of living for families, it’s all hands on deck,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “To build a stronger Ontario that works for everyone, we have to help the 800,000 people who rely on social assistance get back on their feet. That is why we are revolutionizing Ontario’s employment services, so that anyone who wants to, can find a job they are proud of, earn a bigger paycheque and make their dreams a reality.”
source: media release, Bruce County
