Program Delivery and Cost-Sharing

Ontario Works is delivered by municipalities through 37 Consolidated Municipal Service Managers and ten District Social Services Administration Boards (in Northern Ontario). They also deliver other social services, including social housing and child care.

Ontario Works is delivered on-reserve by 100 First Nations delivery agents in 112 communities. Of these, 35 currently deliver the full Ontario Works program, which includes financial support and employment assistance. The remainder deliver financial assistance only. Whether Ontario Works is delivered by a municipality or a First Nation, the rules are the same. However, in situations where First Nations do not deliver the employment assistance component, participation requirements are not mandatory.

ODSP is delivered directly by the province through the Ministry of Community and Social Services in nine regional offices and 45 satellite offices. ODSP Employment Supports are delivered through a network of about 150 community-based service providers and are cost-shared on a 50-50 basis with the federal government under the Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities.

The cost of Ontario Works financial and employment assistance is currently shared by the province (81.2 per cent) and municipalities (18.8 per cent). As part of a plan to upload these costs incrementally, the province will cover 100 per cent of these costs by 2018. Administration costs are shared on a 50-50 basis between the province and municipalities. The province covers 100 per cent of the costs of ODSP.

The federal government provides First Nations with funding to cover the municipal share of Ontario Works costs and reimburses about 93 per cent of the provincial costs of the program under the 1965 Indian Welfare Agreement. The agreement does not cover ODSP.