DNSSAB employees say keep half of employment centres open

District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board
News Release

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If staff recommendations are accepted, the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board will be keeping two of four Employment Resource Centres open, despite funding cuts by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Currently, $84,594 in annual funding from the MTCU covers a considerable portion of the cost to operate four Employment Resource Centres located in Mattawa, South Algonquin (Whitney), Temagami and Bonfield. This funding is no longer available as the MTCU has implemented a new Employment Service delivery model through other service providers.

In order to offer services that meet citizen needs within available resources, the DNSSAB’s Social Services Committee is considering a staff recommendation that – based on usage, financial viability and other data – the employment centres in Mattawa and Whitney be kept open and that the Temagami and Bonfield centres be closed on July 31, 2012.

To ensure employment services are available in a fair and consistent manner, the DNSSAB will build partnerships with the municipalities and public libraries in Temagami and Bonfield to help support citizens’ basic needs.

Municipal and non MTCU provincial funding sources will assist partnerships to deliver identified needs in Temagami and Bonfield and will be used to maintain the higher usage centres in Mattawa and Whitney to the end of 2012.

Two part-time employees will be affected by the closures. The DNSSAB will work with them regarding future employment.

While it is difficult to recommend the closure of an employment centre during an economic downturn, the DNSSAB must operate within existing resources. The future of the centres in Mattawa and Whitney beyond 2012 will be reviewed and a determination will be made based on the DNSSAB’s service planning budget dollars for the next fiscal year.

The recommendations will be presented to the Social Services Committee June 6, 2012 at 1:30 PM and then at the Board meeting on June 19, 2012, at 2:00 PM, at the DNSSAB board room, 3rd floor, 200 McIntyre Street East, North Bay. See the full Employment Resource Centres Stage 2 Report as part of the Social Services Committee Agenda by clicking http://www.dnssab.on.ca/BoardAgendas.htm

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