Improving Social Assistance

Working with municipal partners to better connect people to the supports they need

To protect Ontarians from the health and economic impact of COVID-19, our PC government has made significant investments in social services, including more than a half billion dollars in social services relief funding, and expanded access to temporary emergency assistance for those in financial crisis.

We are now working with our municipal partners to modernize, our social assistance system and connect people to the supports they need, helping them on a path to greater independence and employment.

“Ontario is facing deep economic challenges brought on by COVID-19,” said Todd Smith, MPP for Bay of Quinte and Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “Our government is taking action by developing a sustainable social assistance program that takes the administrative burden off local front-line workers, so they can spend more time helping their clients connect to community supports that will get them ready for jobs.”

Our plan will see people on social assistance receive the support they need to move towards greater independence and financial resilience by connecting them to a network of the right supports in their communities.

As we build this system with municipalities, we will also continue working with First Nations towards a separate plan to renew social assistance for First Nations communities, in recognition of their unique needs and priorities.

It’s a long road ahead, and we continue to build on the work we are doing to transform employment services in Ontario, streamline processes to make it easier for people to connect to the services they need, and allow frontline workers to focus on results for people rather than paperwork.