Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development
Office of the Assistant Deputy Minister
Employment and Training Division
777 Bay Street, 26th Floor
Toronto ON M5G 2E5
Ministère du Travail, de la Formation et du Développement des compétences
Bureau du sous-ministre adjoint
Division de l’emploi et de la formation
777, rue Bay, 26e étage
Toronto ON M5G 2E5
To: Employment Ontario Delivery Partners
From: David Carter-Whitney, Assistant Deputy Minister, Employment and Training Division, Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development
Date: March 30, 2020
Subject: Employment Services Transformation – Timeline Update in Prototype Areas
Dear Employment Ontario delivery partners:
I am writing to provide you with an update regarding implementation timelines for the
transformation of employment services. As scheduled, responsibility in the prototype areas for managing in-scope Employment Ontario and Ontario Disability Support Program employment services service providers will be transferred to the service system managers, effective April 1, 2020.
In light of the current environment, the ministry has decided to extend Phase II – Transition by three months. This extension will enable the ministry and its delivery partners to better respond to projected employment service needs in the coming months. The Transition phase will now run from April 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Service provider agreements will be extended and municipalities will maintain responsibility for Ontario Works employment services until this date.
During this period, service system managers will not be able to make changes to service delivery or the service provider network.
The revised timeline for the transformation of employment services is as follows:
From January 1, 2021, service system managers will be responsible for employment services for Ontario Works recipients. Service system managers will also be able to make changes to the service provider network and will be fully responsible for the planning, design and delivery of in-scope employment services within the identified catchment area.
As stated previously, changes introduced during the prototype phase will not apply to the services provided by First Nations, including Employment Ontario employment services.
Service providers with questions or concerns about this update should contact their service system manager. In the meantime, the ministry will continue to provide updates through the Employment Ontario Partners’ Gateway.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Original signed by David Carter-Whitney, Assistant Deputy Minister, Employment and Training Division
CC. Erin McGinn, Assistant Deputy Minister, Workforce Policy and Innovation Division, Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development
CC. Susan Erwin, Assistant Deputy Minister, Social Assistance Programs Division, Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
