Partnership: including the importance of cooperation across all three levels of government, and the importance of consulting with OMSSA and its members on human services policy and program development
Housing and Homelessness: including the need for:
concentrated efforts to increase supply of rental and community housing
supporting community housing renewal
maintaining development charges as a key source of municipal revenue
modernizing Service Level Standards and reducing regulatory and administrative burdens
prioritizing, continuing and enhancing Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI) funding
Child Care and Early Years: including the need for:
examining how the proposed tax credit could work in tandem with Ontario's child care fee subsidy
supporting access to licensed, safe and quality child care
concentrated, coordinated efforts to enhance ECE recruitment and retention
ensuring funding stability and flexibility across programs
Social Assistance and Employment Support: including the need for:
social assistance rates to keep pace with inflation and the true cost of living in Ontario
reducing administration to allow caseworkers to spend more time supporting and working with people who need it most
simplifying rules, increasing local flexibility and preserving the service system management role
OMSSA's submission also addressed key priorities in areas such as: mental health services; paramedic and emergency services; opioid crisis; long-term care and seniors services; newcomers and asylum seekers; Indigenous populations; transportation, broadband and infrastructure; the Province's regional government and DSSAB reviews; and program and funding integration.