Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
Social Assistance Programs Division
Social Assistance Performance and Accountability Branch
Director's Office
2 Bloor Street West, 25th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M7A 1E9
Tel: (416) 212-1246
August 26, 2025
Donna Stewart
Associate/Chief Administrative Officer
Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board
210 Mead Blvd
Espanola, ON P5E 1R9
Dear Donna,
I am writing to provide you with the following details regarding the 2026 contracting year.
2026 Planning Allocations
Your 2026 Ontario Works Program Delivery Funding (PDF) planning allocation is $1,148,000. A detailed breakdown is provided in Appendix A.
Funding levels for 2026 will be the same as those for 2025, except for Phase 3 partners. For these partners, the 2026 PDF allocations have been adjusted to reflect transfers related to Integrated Employment Services (IES).
As in previous years, the ministry will continue to accept one-time funding requests based on the criteria outlined in Appendix B. Submissions will be accepted only as part of the 2026 Budget Submission process and in-year.
2026 Performance Measures and Corresponding Targets
Your 2026 performance measures and corresponding targets will be forthcoming.
Service Planning Addendum & Supporting Material
The current service plan will be extended through the end of 2026, unless municipal delivery partners choose to submit an addendum due to significant service delivery changes, including any changes to the outcome risk assessment. Service planning templates and tools to support a potential addendum are available on the SA Extranet.
All municipal delivery partners are expected to align with the four performance measures and ministry-set targets, regardless of whether an addendum is submitted.
Budget Submission Requirements and Timelines
Although 2026 service planning materials and tools are already available on the SA Extranet, the same materials will also be uploaded to Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON) for the 2026 release. This will include planning allocations and performance targets.
The due dates for the 2026 Budget Submission, including the submission of one-time funding requests, will be communicated closer to the TPON launch.
Should you have any questions, please contact your Program Supervisor.
Sincerely,
Jeff Bowen
c: Vanessa Rota, Program Supervisor
Sharareh Kamali, Director, Social Assistance Service Delivery
Colleen Hardie, Director, Social Assistance Service Delivery
Sunny Sharma, Director, Business Innovation, and Implementation Branch
Julie Shouldice, Director, Social Assistance Program Policy
Dr. Andres Laxamana, Director, Social Assistance Central Services
Appendix A: 2026 Ontario Works Planning Allocation by Program Component
| Program Component | Program | Planning Allocation - Ministry Share |
| Program Delivery Fund - 100% Provincial (after IES transfer) | Ontario Works Employment Assistance |
$203,500 |
| Program Delivery Fund - 50/50 Funding | Ontario Works Administration |
$944,500 |
| Total | $1,148,000 |