For three days, municipal leaders, social services agencies and other stakeholders have converged at the Best Western Hotel in North Bay for the Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association Conference. Co-hosted by the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board and the District of Parry Sound Social Services Administration Board, the conference wrapped up Thursday morning. The goal is to find solutions to address common challenges across the north. This year, talk of much-needed housing dominated discussions. “It’s become very stark with respect to the inability to actually provide affordable housing here in northern Ontario,” said North Bay Coun. Mark King, vice-chair of the conference. “It’s so extreme that the situation is probably the worst in the country.” Delegates representing northern Ontario’s 10 service managers, who are responsible for delivering essential social and human services together, plan to draft a housing shortage proposal at the federal level. “I serve on a non-profit seniors housing board. There’s a seven-year waitlist,” King said. “That’s for subsidized, geared to income housing for seniors.” Timmins city councillor and Cochrane District Social Services Board member John Curley said that in his region, affordable seniors’ housing is desperately needed. “Once we get the green light … we’re ready to proceed,” Curley said. “We have the location. We have the drawings. We have everything to proceed.” During the conference, participants spoke about emerging trends and challenges for service delivery in northern Ontario, with presentations focused on collaboration, innovation and advocacy. There were presentations and panel discussions focused on housing, homelessness, paramedic services, children’s services, and income support programs. The Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association was formed to bring together northern municipalities and service system managers, providing a unified political voice on policies and program delivery from a uniquely northern perspective. “We can start to share some of the experiences we are having and just seeing what other folks are doing, utilizing some best practices,” said Jeff Laferriere, mayor of Temiskaming Shores. Another challenge the social service agencies want to address is child care. There are currently 13,000 families across Ontario on child-care support waitlists. The challenge is hiring more qualified early childhood educators. In January, officials identified a need for 140 child care staff in the District of Nipissing, with 1,400 children waiting for a spot. For months, King has been pushing the province to extend the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant to include early child care education students through a pilot project. If that were to happen, the government would cover the cost of their tuition, books and supplies if they agree to study and work in underserved Ontario communities. It already does this for paramedic, nursing and medical lab tech students. In a previous statement to CTV News, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security wrote that there weren’t any plans for the program “beyond health care post-secondary programs.” The conference also featured keynote speakers and guest presentations from leaders in government, housing, human services and community development sectors, including industry and sector leaders.
