Yesterday, March 26th, 2024, Ontario tabled the provincial budget for 2024.
Developmental services organizations in Ontario have been campaigning for months on a 5 to Survive campaign, a plea for the government to inject much-needed funding into the Developmental Services sector in the form of a base budget increase. Agencies across the province were hopeful to see this initiative take shape inside of the Provincial budget.
The new budget increases the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) budget from $19.4B (2023/24) to $20.1B (2026/27). It is important to keep in mind that MCCSS' portfolio includes more than only the Developmental Services sector, so not all of these funds will be earmarked for DS. However, the budget announcement did say:
"$310M over three years to address increasing operational costs for community organizations that support vulnerable populations, including children in care, people with developmental disabilities, and people who have experienced gender-based violence and human trafficking; and Annual inflation adjustments to core allowances for ODSP and the maximum monthly amount for the Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities Program."
We take this to mean that there will be at least some investment in our sector. When we have more details, we will be sure to share.
Why is this important? Since 1992, Ontario's investments into the DS sector have not kept pace with inflation, let alone major operational costs like collective bargaining. To articulate the magnitude of this, if you had $1,000 in 1992, then deducted inflation, then added base funding increases by the government since that time, you would be left with $567 now in 2024.
