Jump to content

Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
Ministère des Services sociaux et communautaires (French)
Government ministry overview
Formed1930
JurisdictionOntario
Headquarters438 University Avenue, 7th floor, Toronto, ON M7A 1N3
Ministers responsible
  • Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services
  • Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister for Women's Social and Economic Opportunity
  • Logan Kanapathi, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services with responsibility for Community and Social Services
Deputy Minister responsible
  • Denise Allyson Cole, Deputy Minister of Community and Social Services
Parent departmentGovernment of Ontario
Child Government ministry
Website

The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services is the ministry in Ontario, Canada responsible for services to children and youth, social services such as welfare, the Ontario Disability Support Program, and community service programs to address homelessness, domestic violence, spousal support, adoption, and assisted housing for people with disabilities. Michael Parsa was appointed Minister of Children, Community and Social Services after the resignation of Merrilee Fullerton in 2023.[1]

Ontario Works

[edit]

Ontario Works is a last-resort income support program for the poor. Prior to 1997, persons requiring this assistance received support under the General Welfare Assistance Act. While the Ontario Works program purports to better respect peoples dignity, build self-esteem and promote independence,[citation needed] its origins are in the Ontario Works Act, 1997 as a workfare programme under the Mike Harris government.[2] Each of its participants is encouraged to be involved more in the community and find suitable employment.

Ontario Works is a program that provides income and employment assistance for people who are in financial need by developing an Action Plan in certain agencies. In other agencies participants are referred to other resources. This Plan identifies and addresses an individual's barriers to employment. It is a benefit for persons 18 years and older and by exception for peoples 16 to 18 and also single parents regardless of age. In order to qualify for Ontario Works, an applicant must be a resident of the province of Ontario, in immediate need of financial help, not have excessive assets and be a willing participant in employment assistance programs and activities.

There are exceptions to participating in employment related activities if the participant is unable to work for medical reasons or if they are the primary caregiver for a relative. The amount of money received from Ontario Works will depend on family size, income, assets, and housing costs. Those eligible for Ontario Works may be able to receive other benefits such as medical and dental coverage, eyeglasses, moving or eviction costs and employment-related costs.

Ontario Works also assists applicants for the Ontario Disability Supports Program (ODSP) by providing immediate financial assistance, application for ODSP and advocacy in the appeal process. Applications for Social Assistance in Ontario can now be completed online at; https://saapply.mcss.gov.on.ca/CitizenPortal/cw/PlayerPage.do. Eligibility can also be determined at the same link without directly applying.

In 2014, a $240-million Social Assistance Management System (SAMS) software platform deployed by IBM's Cúram Software caused $20 million of overpayments to 17,000 Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program (OW/ODSP) recipients, while thousands of others received token $5 monthly payments or nothing at all.[3] Some were unable to pay for rent or electricity, in some cases leading to their eviction.[4] Others were manually issued paper cheques.

Juvenile corrections

[edit]

The ministry operates correctional facilities for juveniles who are convicted of crimes.[5]

Secure juvenile facilities include:[6]

Ministry agencies

[edit]

[7]

  • Autism Spectrum Disorders Clinical Expert Committee
  • Community Opportunities Advocate
  • Council of The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
  • Premier's Council on Equality of Opportunity
  • Soldier's Aid Commission

List of ministers

[edit]
Name Term of office Name Term of office Political party
(Ministry) 		Note
Minister of Public Welfare Conservative
(Hearst)
William Martin 15 December 1930 10 July 1934
David Croll 10 July 1934 14 April 1937 Liberal
(Hepburn)
Mitch Hepburn 14 April 1937 14 October 1937 Concurrently Premier
Eric Cross 14 October 1937 1 January 1940
??? 1 January 1940 27 May 1941
Farquhar Oliver 27 May 1941 12 October 1942
Harold Kirby 21 October 1942 18 May 1943 Liberal
(Conant)
Farquhar Oliver 18 May 1943 17 August 1943 Liberal
(Nixon)
Percy Vivian 17 August 1943 7 January 1946 Conservative
(Drew)
Bill Goodfellow 7 January 1946 19 October 1948
19 October 1948 4 May 1949 Conservative
(Kennedy)
4 May 1949 4 May 1955 Conservative
(Frost)
Louis-Pierre Cecile 17 August 1955 8 November 1961
8 November 1961 24 November 1966 Conservative
(Robarts)
John Yaremko 24 November 1966 22 March 1967
Minister of Social and Family Services
John Yaremko 22 March 1967 1 March 1971
Thomas Leonard Wells 1 March 1971 2 February 1972 Conservative
(Davis)
Rene Brunelle 1 March 1971 10 April 1972
Minister of Community and Social Services
Rene Brunelle 10 April 1972 7 October 1975
James A. Taylor 7 October 1975 3 February 1977
Keith Norton 3 February 1977 10 April 1981
Frank Drea 10 April 1981 29 September 1983
Bruce McCaffrey (interim) 29 September 1983 21 November 1983 Concurrently
Provincial Secretary for Social Development
Frank Drea 21 November 1983 8 February 1985
Robert Elgie 8 February 1985 17 May 1985 Conservative
(Miller)
Ernie Eves 17 May 1985 26 June 1985
John Sweeney 26 June 1985 2 August 1989 Liberal
(Peterson)
Charles Beer 2 August 1989 1 October 1990
Zanana Akande 1 October 1990 10 October 1991 NDP
(Rae)
Marion Boyd 15 October 1991 3 February 1993
Tony Silipo 3 February 1993 25 June 1995
David Tsubouchi 26 June 1995 16 August 1996 PC
(Harris)
Janet Ecker 16 August 1996 17 June 1999
John Baird 17 June 1999 14 April 2002 Designated
"Minister Responsible for Children" after February 8, 2001
Minister of Community, Family and Children's Services PC
(Eves)
Brenda Elliott 15 April 2002 22 October 2003
Minister of Community and Social Services Minister of Children and Youth Services Liberal
(McGuinty)
Sandra Pupatello 23 October 2003 5 April 2006 Marie Bountrogianni 23 October 2003 29 June 2005
Mary Anne Chambers 29 June 2005 30 October 2007
Madeleine Meilleur 5 April 2006 20 October 2011
Deb Matthews 30 October 2007 7 October 2009
Laurel Broten 7 October 2009 20 October 2011
John Milloy 20 October 2011 11 February 2013 Eric Hoskins 20 October 2011 13 November 2012
Laurel Broten 13 November 2012 11 February 2013
Ted McMeekin 11 February 2013 24 June 2014 Teresa Piruzza 11 February 2013 24 June 2014 Liberal
(Wynne)
Helena
Jaczek		 24 June 2014 26 February 2018 Tracey MacCharles 24 June 2014 13 June 2016
Michael Coteau 13 June 2016 29 June 2018
Michael Coteau 26 February 2018 29 June 2018
Minister of Children, Community and Social Services PC
(Ford)
Lisa MacLeod 29 June 2018 29 June 2019
Todd Smith 29 June 2019 18 June 2021
Merrilee Fullerton 18 June 2021 24 March 2023
Michael Parsa 24 March 2023 present

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Kanata–Carleton MPP Merrilee Fullerton resigns". CBC News. 2023-03-26. Archived from the original on 2023-07-28.
  2. ^ "Does workfare work? Experts say no one really knows | canada.com". Archived from the original on 2013-10-26.
  3. ^ Brennan, Richard J. (23 December 2014). "Queen's Park has paper solution to welfare computer woes". The Toronto Star.
  4. ^ "Hamilton residents evicted due to faulty software: Whitehead". CBC Hamilton. 18 December 2014.
  5. ^ " Youth are found guilty of offences, they are not convicted. About Youth Justice Services in Ontario Archived 2010-08-23 at the Wayback Machine." Ministry of Children and Youth Services. Retrieved on 15 September 2010.
  6. ^ "Secure Custody Facilities for Youth Archived 2010-07-27 at the Wayback Machine." Ministry of Children and Youth Services. Retrieved on September 15, 2010.
  7. ^ "Agencies and current appointees - Public Appointments Secretariat".
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ministry_of_Children,_Community_and_Social_Services&oldid=1265460712"