THUNDER BAY — City Council has approved a motion endorsing the District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board’s (TBDSSAB) 2025 position papers for the upcoming Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference.
Each year, TBDSSAB delegates meet with provincial ministries to advocate for solutions that address the needs of vulnerable residents across the district. The position papers outline pressing issues and propose practical, funded solutions.
“Just to make sure that council is aware of the work that we do at the DSSAB and the work that often runs in tandem with (the intergovernmental affairs committee)," said Brian Hamilton, chair of the Thunder Bay DSSAB board. "Out of the five delegations we have requested, we have received four confirmations with ministries outlining these important projects. It’s there, just looking for council support, just to put our stamp on it and send it down the pipe for consideration.”
This year’s advocacy focuses on five priorities:
- Calling on the Ministry of Education to create a wage grid framework for Early Childhood Educators to improve recruitment, retention, and workforce stability.
- Urging the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) to boost funding for the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative and Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative to stabilize housing stock and build more affordable units, including post-mortgage Urban Native Housing.
- Requesting that the Attorney General and MMAH address lengthy hearing delays, strengthen adjudicator training on community housing issues, and assign adjudicators consistently by region.
- Seeking $1 million from the Solicitor General for a pilot program with Thunder Bay Police Service to deploy Special Constables and improve tenant safety.
- Urging the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services to fund 50 units of supportive housing to reduce transitional care wait times.
With council’s unanimous endorsement, TBDSSAB will head to the AMO conference backed by the city’s full support, aiming to turn those proposals into commitments from the province.
