September Employment Transformation Update

Today the Ministry of Labour Training and Skills Development (MLTSD) released an update on Employment Transformation in Ontario.

As you are aware, the province is changing to a Service System Manager model. This transformation has been underway since 2019, with three regions already in the new system — Peel, Muskoka–Kawartha, and Niagara–Hamilton.

MLTSD is proceeding with four (4) new catchments areas based on the market sounding, service delivery catchment considerations, and the RFQ. They are as follows:

Organizations that submitted an RFQ and were deemed qualified will be invited to the competitive Call for Proposal via the Ontario Tender portals. Those that applied have been informed of their status in the process and qualified organizations have been informed. MLTSD will be releasing the list of those organizations today.

The timeline for the full process in the new catchment areas has a completion target date of March 2023. Like the first round of transformation, the roll-out will be over the course of several months, to ensure minimal disruption of service for clients and, to allow the SSM’s to develop their relationships with the agencies in the catchment areas. At time of writing the plan is:

Announcement of the successful Service System Manager proposals: April 2022

Planning period: April 2022–June 2022

Transition period — EO, ODSP–ES will move under the SSM: July 2022 to March 2023

Final stage of the transition (Integrated employment service delivery) — OW Employment Services will move under the SSM: March 2023

For the most up to date information, and the list of organizations qualified to apply for the SSM role, please visit Employment Services Transformation (gov.on.ca) 

Quick Links:
1. ADM Memo September 13, 2021:  http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/eopg/publications/est-adm-memo-eo-network-catchment-phasing-update-en.pdf

  1. Q&A September 13, 2021: Questions and Answers: update on provincial rollout (gov.on.ca)
  2. List of qualified RFQ applicants September 13, 2021: http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/eopg/publications/est-list-of-qualified-applicants-en.pdf