Letter from Commissioners Frances Lankin and Munir A. Sheikh (Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario)
5:56 PM in Government Issues, Library, Report/Study by Ontario Disability Employment Network
Subject: Letter from Commissioners Frances Lankin and Munir A. Sheikh
On behalf of Commissioners Frances Lankin and Munir A. Sheikh I am pleased to let you know that our engagement process is underway. Our Discussion Paper: Issues and Ideas and a short version, Summary and Workbook, are now available on our website: www.socialassistancereview.ca.
As part of its Poverty Reduction Strategy, the government has given the Commission a significant mandate to make recommendations to reform social assistance in Ontario. We need to build a better system that improves employment opportunities and provides security for people who cannot work.
The issues facing social assistance are complex and we need your help to find the solutions. The direct experience and perspectives of employment service providers are important considerations in the development of recommendations for reform. There are several ways to provide input to us, including our online Workbook. Please visit our website to find out how to share your views with the Commission.
You will also be interested to know that we are encouraging people across Ontario to come together in groups to engage in cross-community dialogue. In this way, the proposed solutions will reflect the unique perspectives of different regions and communities. We have also developed a Guide to Hosting a Community Conversation, which is available on our website, for people who may need guidance to organize their own meeting.
People in your communities may seek further information on our process and how they might contribute to the dialogue. Please feel free to refer people to the Commission’s website which includes advice on how to provide input to our work.
We have requested feedback on the Discussion Paper by September 1, 2011 so that we can consider it in the development of an options paper in late fall/early winter.
If you would like to receive printed copies of the Discussion Paper and Summary and Workbook, please email us at socialassistancereview@ontario.ca or call us toll free at 1-855-269-6250.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Leah Myers
Executive Lead
Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario
