Durham Region announced as Employment Service System Manager

Whitby, Ontario – After a multistage competitive process, the Province of Ontario announced that the Durham Region Employment Services Consortium has been selected as the regional employment Service System Manager (SSM). The announcement came as part of a broader provincial announcement related to Employment Services Transformation.

The consortium is comprised of The Regional Municipality of Durham (as the lead agency), Durham College and Durham Workforce Authority. With extensive experience and expertise in employment and human services program implementation, consultation, and system co-ordination, the consortium will provide funding, support and oversight for the region’s employment services network. This group will help job seekers in Durham find good, stable jobs. They will offer people new skills training to help them advance into new and better jobs. The consortium will work together on new projects to give opportunities to racialized residents, Indigenous Peoples, and other communities in need.

The consortium has a deep understanding of the region to efficiently serve various client groups, including barriered clients, and build capacity with employment service providers. As mature business entities, the SSM has established business support systems that will be used to ensure the employment system is delivered in an effective, responsive and financially sustainable way.

The transition to full implementation will commence over the next year. 

Quotes

“We are taking significant steps to address Ontario’s historic labour shortage and help more people start their journey towards a career they can be proud of. By expanding and improving our employment services with a renewed focus on helping people lead purpose-driven lives, we are lifting people up, including those on social assistance, so that they can be leaders in their community and help build a stronger Ontario for all of us.”

- Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

“The Region of Durham is committed to providing an integrated, locally responsive, and client-focused employment services system. Through collaboration and strong community partnerships—with service providers, community organizations, and employers—we are helping people to reach their full potential. Together, this will bring a strong system of service to Durham residents.”

- John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Region of Durham

“Durham College is proud to be collaborating with these local partners who share a strong understanding of the needs of our local community. Durham College brings extensive experience providing employment services to our community and is well-positioned to support the retraining and future learning of members of our community, including those who have experienced barriers to employment.”

- Don Lovisa, President, Durham College

“The Durham Workforce Authority is excited to play a leadership role in developing a “made-in-Durham” approach to reinvigorating our system. Our consortium is led by organizations that understand the challenges and opportunities in our community because it’s their community too. Working with our partners, we will continue to provide quality labour market information to support the Region of Durham SSM Consortium in creating a demand-driven, effective, sustainable system that helps Durham Region residents attach to the labour market and support employers in finding the employees they need.”

- Heather McMillan, Executive Director, Durham Workforce Authority

Quick facts:

• The Regional Municipality of Durham is the designated Service System Manager for Ontario Works, Housing, Homelessness, Early Learning and Child Care, and operates four long-term care homes. The Region of Durham is responsible for responding to local needs, building systems capacity and extensive planning, implementation and management of human services. The Region of Durham brings with it the Economic Development and Tourism Division, also known as Invest Durham. It strives to create and retain jobs, increase non-residential assessment, and promote the region as the best place to live, work and invest.
• Durham College is a premier post-secondary institution, offering more than 145 market-driven programs at its Oshawa and Whitby campuses. Durham College is at the forefront of transformative, experiential learning and innovative applied research. Durham College is also an existing employment service provider with locations in Uxbridge, Oshawa, and Bowmanville, with itinerant locations in Port Perry and Beaverton.
• Durham Workforce Authority is a community-based not for profit with over 20 years’ experience delivering academically rigorous and reliable labour market research in Durham Region. Durham Workforce Authority’s vision and mission is to be the leading source of labour market intelligence for Durham Region and to champion the development and maintenance of a sustainable and dynamic workforce.

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For media requests, please contact CorporateCommunications@durham.ca.