Item - 2016.GM9.8
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on February 3, 2016 without amendments.
- This item was considered by Government Management Committee on January 4, 2016 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on February 3, 2016.
GM9.8 - Impact of Social Assistance Management System (SAMS) Implementation in Toronto
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on February 3 and 4, 2016, adopted the following:
1. City Council request the Government of Ontario to recognize the impact Social Assistance Management System has had on municipalities and provide necessary funding to offset the incremental costs of Social Assistance Management System for 2015 and 2016 (currently estimated at $7.25 million annually).
2. City Council forward a copy of this Item to the Minister of Community and Social Services.
3. City Council direct the General Manager, Toronto Employment and Social Services to report back in the fall of 2016 on the status of the Social Assistance Management System implementation in Toronto.
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/gm/bgrd/backgroundfile-86902.pdf
Motions (City Council)
Vote (Adopt Item) Feb-03-2016 5:34 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - GM9.8 - Adopt the item |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 36 | Members that voted Yes are Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Jon Burnside, John Campbell, Christin Carmichael Greb, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Joe Cressy, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Justin J. Di Ciano, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Mary Fragedakis, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday, Jim Karygiannis, Norman Kelly, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, Michael Thompson, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
| Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
| Total members that were Absent: 9 | Members that were absent are Paul Ainslie, Michelle Berardinetti, Vincent Crisanti, Frank Di Giorgio, Paula Fletcher, Rob Ford, Giorgio Mammoliti, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Ron Moeser |
GM9.8 - Impact of Social Assistance Management System (SAMS) Implementation in Toronto
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Committee Recommendations
The Government Management Committee recommends that:
1. City Council request that the Government of Ontario recognize the impact Social Assistance Management System has had on municipalities and provide necessary funding to offset the incremental costs of Social Assistance Management System for 2015 and 2016 (currently estimated at $7.25 million annually).
2. City Council transmit this report to the Minister of Community and Social Services (MCSS).
3. City Council direct the General Manager, Toronto Employment and Social Services to report back in the fall of 2016 on the status of the Social Assistance Management System implementation in Toronto.
Origin
Summary
As part of the provincial government’s initiative to modernize and improve social assistance, the Ministry of Community and Social Services implemented a new social assistance delivery technology in November 2014. This new technology – Social Assistance Management System (SAMS) – is a mandatory province-wide system used to deliver the Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) across Ontario.
As the organization primarily responsible for the successful delivery of social assistance in Toronto, TESS, on behalf of the City, made extensive preparations and major investments to ensure that the implementation of SAMS would cause minimal service disruptions to clients and that staff would be as prepared as possible to use the new system. This involved providing extensive feedback to the province through all stages of SAMS design and implementation, communicating the business needs of our operations and detailing business risks prior to implementation.
This report discusses the proactive steps TESS took to prepare for the implementation of SAMS. It specifically describes how TESS has worked to minimize service impacts through the initial implementation period and on an ongoing basis. Finally, the report addresses the major issues with SAMS at this point, the implications for TESS in terms of serving OW clients in Toronto, notably the requirement to refocus on service planning and the delivery of employment services, both of which were negatively affected by SAMS implementation, plus the steps TESS is taking with the province to improve system performance.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/gm/bgrd/backgroundfile-86902.pdf
Speakers
Motions
That Recommendation 1 in the staff report be amended by adding the words "for 2015 and 2016 (currently estimated at $7.25 million annually)" so that it now reads:
"1. City Council request that the Government of Ontario recognize the impact Social Assistance Management System has had on municipalities and provide necessary funding to offset the incremental costs of Social Assistance Management System for 2015 and 2016 (currently estimated at $7.25 million annually)."