Highlights from the 2023 Ontario Budget
(TORONTO, March 24, 2023) — Yesterday the Province released the 2023 Ontario Budget – Building a Strong Ontario. It includes several investments in infrastructure and systems. The budget did not indicate any cuts to current funding of the various Ministries. However, it did not mention significant investments in services and supports for the people of Ontario, either.Here are excerpts from the budget, organized in two key areas that impact our sector:
1. Investing in Skills Development
To help workers and job seekers get the skills they need, this budget indicates investment of an additional $75 million over the next three years for the Skills Development Fund (SDF). Many employment service providers access this funding stream to deliver programs and supports for job seekers who have a disability.In addition to that amount, the government will also launch a new capital stream of the SDF, providing $224 million in 2023–24 for this. It will leverage private–sector expertise and expand training centres, including union training halls, to provide more accessible, flexible training opportunities for workers.The recently redesigned Better Jobs Ontario (BJO) program (formerly Second Career) will see a $15–million investment over the next three years. When BJO was relaunched last year it unlocked access for job seekers who have no previous work experience, gig workers, newcomers and people who have a disability.As well, this budget specified $6.2 million in targeted supports for students who have a disability. This funding is for co–operative education opportunities. ODEN has been highlighting this inequity for over a year. We hope this funding will result in meaningful, integrated and work focused co–op experiences for students who have been left out of this skill–development opportunity due to a lack of available supports.
2. Connecting People to Mental Health Services
In the 2020 budget the Province made a $3.8–billion investment over 10 years for its Mental Health and Addictions (MHA) Roadmap to Wellness.In this budget the government is providing an additional $425 million over three years for a variety of services such as supporting:• Mental health programs that are community led and delivered• Children and youth aged 12–25 through Youth Wellness HubsPart of this new investment will provide community-based mental health and addictions service providers that are funded by Ministry of Health, with a 5% increase in base funding. ODEN encourages you to review the full budget to identify the areas that impact you and those that you support.