Understanding Social Assistance in Northern Ontario: 1997-2010

This study explores how the post-1997, redeveloped Ontario Works welfare system, together with the economic and social conditions in northern Ontario, influenced the administration and delivery of social assistance. In particular, this research aims to expand the limited knowledge of welfare in northern rural and non-metropolitan contexts and to increase understanding of how economic and social conditions influence the provision of the Ontario Work program. Using a constructivist grounded theory methodology, the experiences of Ontario Works program deliverers were drawn upon to foster an increased understanding of issues commonly encountered when providing social assistance to northern Ontario residents. Data were gathered over two primary periods through in-depth interviews, and follow-up interviews conducted throughout a several year data collection and analysis process. Forty-three northern Ontario Works program deliverers comprised of Ontario Works managers, supervisors, and caseworkers from across northern Ontario participated in the study. The analysis of the data reveals that northern Ontario Works program deliverers experience a multitude of resource constraints arising from local northern conditions as well as those situated within the welfare system. Research participants across northern Ontario reported that northern areas had limited economic capacity to provide adequate social services and infrastructure necessary to support the fulfillment of social assistance employment objectives. This study also found that social assistance employment objectives were compromised by limited local control over decision-making, under-resourcing within the Ontario Works program, and â urban-centricâ funding arrangements that disadvantaged northern areas. In addition, northern Ontario Works program deliverers reported substantive barriers to employment due to extremely low human capital among welfare recipients. Moreover, findings indicate that these constraints are compounding. In other words, northern Ontario Works program deliverers frequently encountered multiple and simultaneously occurring resource barriers. The result was described as intensifying resource deficiencies and inhibiting efforts to facilitate sustained labour market attachment among welfare recipients.Ph.D