Employment and Income Support Committee - June 17, 2005 Minutes
9:00 a.m.
Room 508, 99 Regina Street, Waterloo, Ontario
Present were: Chair J. Mitchell, A. Alvarez, B. Barlett, S. Brady, D. Burnfield, J. Butler, D. Carter, J. Cudney, L. Dube, E. Dubas, D. Goodwin, G. Halley, C. Harrington, A. Leis, S. Mancini, P. Mercer, E. Pfeuffer, M. Schinkel, C. Simpson* and H. Sivak
Regrets: J. Anderson, E. Austin, P. Cook, P. Cox, L. Eisenporth, H. Grassick, G. Kazan, M. Rajotte, M. Rivera, I. Sousa-Batista and J. Tuer
Also Present: D. Dirks, H. Rodgers and I. Sa Melo
The meeting commenced at 9:00 a.m.
DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST UNDER THE MUNICIPAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT
None declared.
INTRODUCTIONS
J. Mitchell requested introductions from all present and welcomed Mark Schinkel, Principal of Adult and Continuing Education at the Waterloo Region District School Board. M. Schinkel was nominated and approved as a new EISCAC member with a term ending December 31, 2006.
MOVED by E. Pfeuffer
SECONDED by G. Halley
THAT the Regional Municipality of Waterloo appoint Mark Schinkel as Education Representative for the Employment and Income Support Community Advisory Committee, with a term ending December 31, 2006.
CARRIED
Andrea Alvarez, Restaurant Supervisor at The Radisson Hotel in Kitchener was introduced as a potential business representative for EISCAC. A. Alvarez will attend this meeting and decide whether to join the Committee.
REVIEW OF AGENDA
Committee members approved the agenda.
MINUTES
MOVED by E. Pfeuffer
SECONDED by J. Cudney
That the minutes of the EISCAC meeting held March 10, 2005 be approved as circulated.
CARRIED
J. Mitchell congratulated B. Bartlett on his recognition at the Justice Dinner for his work at the Mayfair Hotel.
CORRESPONDENCE / INFORMATION
a) Manager, Employment Services
David Dirks, Director of Employment and Income Support announced that Nancy Schwindt, Manager, Employment Services will be leaving the Region as of June 30, 2005. D. Dirks invited everyone to join in N. Schwindt’s good-bye party on June 23, 2005.
Graeme Fisken was introduced as the new Manager, Employment Services.
b) Letter from St. Louis Adult Learning Centre
D. Dirks reviewed the letter from St. Louis Adult Learning Centre circulated to the Committee regarding the replacement for Tom Forestell. Paul Cox will join the EISCAC at a future meeting as the Waterloo Catholic District School Board representative.
c) Social Services Annual Report
D. Dirks distributed the Social Services Annual Report and provided a brief overview for information purposes.
d) Priorities for 2004 Progress Report
D. Dirks distributed the Priorities for 2004 Progress Report and provided a brief overview highlighting the successes of Employment & Income Support in 2004. He advised that the document is intended for an “internal” audience.
e) Priorities for 2005/06 Report
D. Dirks distributed the E&IS Priorities for 2005/2006 document and highlighted the key sections. D. Dirks summarized the division’s goals, priorities and planned initiatives for the period April 2005 through March 2006. The priority areas are based on staff and EISCAC feedback.
J. Mitchell indicated Committee members should review the document and provide input regarding priorities for the next meeting.
f) Labour Market Profile
Heather Rodgers, Social Planning Associate provided an overview of the Labour Market Profile, outlining labour market variables from 2004 and expectations for 2005. She advised staff will forward a copy to the Province as part of the 2005-2007 Ontario Works Service Plan in August 2005. The profile includes an overview of local employment rates, employment levels in specific industries and occupations, and future skill demands. Employment & Income Support uses this information to support program and service planning and in its work with Ontario Works participants.
The profile indicates that the unemployment rate in this region was significantly lower than the provincial average in 2004 (5.1% compared to 6.8%) and that the region had a stronger labour market in January 2005 as compared to January 2004. Manufacturing employment continues to be very important to this region. Employers continue to demand high education and skill levels. This poses a challenge for those Ontario Works participants who may have low education levels and difficulty adapting to new
circumstances. Many will require support in upgrading literacy and education levels as well as fundamental employment skills to be competitive in the local labour market.
S. Mancini suggested the profile look at wage rates. C. Simpson advised the Waterloo Wellington Training and Adjustment Board is developing a full labour market report which will be circulated in July.
E&IS DIVISION UPDATES
g) Update on Transitional Benefits
D. Dirks provided an overview of Report SS-05-033 distributed to Committee members regarding changes to earnings exemptions and other supports for Ontario Works recipients that will occur on August 1, 2005. These changes are consistent with the report developed by Ms. Deb Matthews, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Community and Social Services, in December 2004. D. Dirks indicated that community meetings regarding recent changes to benefits and Intake Services will be held on June 29, 2005 in Waterloo and June 30, 2005 in Cambridge for those interested in attending.
D. Dirks outlined the changes that will be introduced in August 2005 including changes to earnings exemptions, a full time employment benefit, the deduction for informal child care, and the extended employment health benefit. D. Dirks reviewed the implications of these changes for participants and for the Region and the next steps for implementing these changes locally.
h) Feedback on Web Page Link
D. Dirks acknowledged that improvements are required regarding the web page and requested input on key words that Committee members would use to search for Employment & Income Support on the Region of Waterloo web site. Suggestions included Ontario Works, welfare and social assistance.
i) Caseload Profile
H. Rodgers provided an overview of key demographic characteristics of Ontario Works participants in October 2004. This profile was developed to increase our understanding of the caseload in order to support program and service planning in Employment & Income Support. H. Rodgers reviewed the purpose of the profile, the methods used in developing it, and key variables including age, family composition, education levels, languages, number of months on assistance and employment status.
Feedback was requested from Committee members regarding information to focus on in future work and H. Rodgers responded to Committee questions. Committee discussion revolved around essential skills and the requirements for College. Committee members indicated that more information on the following would be useful in any future profile: participants with no education; barriers that participants with post-secondary education are facing; a breakdown of the education types of those with post-secondary education; recidivism rates and reasons for multiple entries onto Ontario Works; participants’ experiences on the caseload; wage rates and hours worked by those who are employed; English skills of internationally trained participants; country that highest level of education was completed in; reasons some participants have remained on assistance for longer periods; whether participants have the employability skills that the local labour market requires; reason those who exited assistance left – find out more about the 20.8% of participants leaving with “No Income Statement”.
*C. Simpson left the meeting at 10:35 p.m.
j) Addiction Services Update and Feedback on the Proposed Planning Process
D. Dirks advised the Provincial Government is moving ahead with its Addiction Services Initiative. All
municipal service managers (including Region of Waterloo) were expected to submit an Implementation Proposal to the Province by July 29, 2005 and then to implement the initiative by December 31, 2005. D. Dirks provided an update on the Addiction Services pilot sites across Ontario and the status of Provincial plans for funding. Given the lack of clarity on the level of available funding, municipalities will not need to submit a proposal by July 29th. D. Dirks indicated he would update Committee members regarding local plans for Addiction Services and responded to questions regarding the various phases of planning for this initiative. D. Dirks asked for input regarding whether the proposed planning process makes sense.
S. Mancini advised groups within the community are working on addiction issues and connecting with those resources would be a benefit to the Region’s approach. She asked whether the Province is looking at parallel programs for housing support for when participants leave treatment.
B. Barlett appealed to staff to include the perspectives of people who have addictions from the beginning of the planning process in order to incorporate their needs into the services that are developed.
E. Dubas provided input from a Provincial viewpoint and recognized the need to address gaps in service and the need for funding to support this initiative.
k) Update on Intake Services Transfer
D. Dirks provided Committee members with an update regarding the closure of the seven Intake Screening Units across the province and the transfer of Intake Services to municipal service managers. Region of Waterloo’s Intake Services went live on June 7, 2005. D. Dirks reviewed activity within Intake Services to date. The transition has been going smoothly and calls are being answered within 60-90 seconds on average.
S. Mancini asked what phone number people call and D. Dirks advised that there has been no change to the application number (883-2100).
l) 2005-2007 Ontario Works Service Plan
D. Dirks indicated that the Province is moving to a new funding model. 2005 will be a transition year, with funding shifting over to the new model in 2006. As this is a transition period, staff anticipate no significant changes in programs and delivery of service. As a result, D. Dirks indicated that E&IS will share the 2005-2007 Ontario Works Service Plan with the Committee and, while members are free to provide their comments, there will be no formal consultation process this year regarding the service plan.
REVIEW “COMMITTEE FOCUS 2005”
Deferred to September.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.
MOVED by E. Pfeuffer
SECONDED by G. Halley
THAT the meeting adjourn.
CARRIED
COMMITTEE CHAIR, J. Mitchell
COMMITTEE CLERK, I. Sa Melo