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Computer System Announced for Social Assistance The Ministry of Community and Social Services will be implementing a province-wide computer system to improve the management of Ontario's Ontario's social assistance programs, Minister Minister Tony Silipo announced recently. In the near future, the ministry will be asking companies for proposals proposals to implement the new computer system. Implementation costs will be 100 per cent funded by the province. " 1 he new project will enable caseworkers caseworkers to better manage their caseloads caseloads and ensure that only those who qualify for benefits receive them, thereby reducing fraud," he said. "This fully-automated system will be the foundation to support this government's government's plans for social assistance reform reform to be put in place beginning in 1995." • " Social assistance reform is also being discussed with Ontario's First Nations. The possibility of using the new system to meet their unique nepds is part of those discussions, the Minister said. The support and training parts of the project alone are expected to create 75 to 100 jobs in Ontario over a two-year period. Key elements of the new system have already been successfully tested in four ministry-funded pilot sites - in Brantford, Brant County, Timmins and Metro Toronto. Metro spearheaded the development development of the system. Together with the province, Metro Toronto invested both human and financial resources to show how the system can improve the delivery of the province's social assistance programs, Silipo said. When the project is completed, all social assistance offices will be on the same computer network. Currently, most municipalities have some form of computerization for tracking social assistance cases, either as part of the province's existing existing network which depends heavily on paperwork or their own standalone standalone system. A few still depend on a manual process. The computers, software installation, installation, staff training and support - will total about $100 million over the next four years. "The payoff will not only be cost savings and a better-managed system, but caseworkers will also be able to spend more time counselling their clients clients and helping them to move off welfare to employment." Silipo said. There are currently about 640,000 cases on Ontario's welfare roles, representing representing about 1.3 million people, more than double the 1990 total. Payments Payments exceed $6 billion a year, about 10 per cent of the Ontario budget. 55» f. (ZuàÙMt&u, Cc6e y<uc *tt4Âe it ait «wit&ov&ite, you, att very, ntevup tecum. Russ Major Plumbing and Heating h Orono-983-5858 t 3 X t y p TA' i t ! The Independent, Canadian Statesman Weekender, Bowmanville, Friday, December 24, 1993 31 Holiday Shopping Hours: Open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday King and Liberty Streets Bowmanville