QUEEN'S PARK – Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop announced today that Simcoe County will receive $476,000 from the Ernie Eves government for topping its latest Ontario Works placements target, helping even more people move from welfare to work.

"I congratulate municipal staff for their hard work, dedication and creativity," said Dunlop. "Their efforts have made a positive difference in the lives of people on welfare who need the work experience that placements provide."

In 2001/2002, Simcoe County created 1,069 Ontario Works placements for Ontario Works participants, exceeding its target by 258 placements. In addition to providing current, practical work experience, placements help welfare recipients gain new and updated job skills, improved confidence in their abilities, up-to-date job references, and contacts with potential future employers.

Each and every one of the 47 Ontario Works municipal delivery agents exceeded its 2001/2002 placements target. Together, they created a total of 98,923 placements across Ontario – almost double the target of 51,977 placements.

Province-wide, additional funding of $60.5 million for 2001/2002 will be invested in local community services and is part of the government?s three-year Welfare-to-Work Action Plan that was launched in Simcoe County. Since 1999, the Ontario government has provided municipalities with more than $100 million in enhancement funding for exceeding their Ontario Works placements targets.

"Over the last three years, municipalities, community agencies and employers have come to recognize the value of placements to people on welfare," said Dunlop. "Placements give people the tools they need to get off welfare and into the work force."

Since 1995, Ontario's welfare reforms have helped approximately 600,000 people leave the welfare system.

Contacts:
Garfield DunlopJulie Kwiecinski
MPP Simcoe NorthE.A. to Garfield Dunlop
(705) 327-4500 (cell)(416) 325-6176