History
Min-O-Qwe-Ke-Ga-Bwe’in (MSSI)
Jan 26, 1998 – The MSSI program was implemented and included (8) First Nations who agreed to design an Ontario Works business plan. The business plan was developed by a working group consisting of 3 members from each of the First Nation to enhance the Anishinaabeg lifestyle and provide culturally appropriate programs and services to community members and to ensure the program delivery of the Ontario Works legislation.
May 1, 1998 - The Ontario Works financial assistance criteria take effect.
October 1998 – The MSSI program take effect. In this model, the member First Nations retain their Ontario Works designation and deliver financial assistance services within their communities and the Kenora Chiefs Advisory, MSSI program delivered the employment assistance services to member First Nations.
2001 – the Ontario Works program funding formula changed from performance based funding to “levels of service” funding.
April 1, 2006 – the Ontario Works program has changed from levels of service to “outcome measures” for service planning and funding.
Apr 2006 to Dec 2007 – the Kenora Chiefs Advisory and seven (7) member First Nations restructured the MSSI Service Plan. In order to access all available funding offered for the administration of the program by the Ministry, the First Nation communities were required to “Cluster” together.
In this model, the First Nations maintain their Ontario Works designation and deliver the core financial and employment assistance and the Kenora Chiefs Advisory to provide coordinated and centralized services such as family support worker and eligibility review officer functions that the members can share.
Dec 21, 2006 – the Ministry invited the member First Nations and Kenora Chiefs Advisory to participate in a two (2) year pilot project of group delivery of Ontario Works and evaluation starting April 1, 2007 and ending March 31, 2009.
Jan 16, 2007 – the member (7) First Nations and Kenora Chiefs Advisory participating in the MSSI Cluster Model confirmed their participation in the pilot project.
April 1, 2007 – the member First Nations and Kenora Chiefs Advisory started delivering the full Ontario Works program with an increased cost of administration for the duration of the pilot project.
