PUBLIC SERVICES FOR ONTARIANS: A PATH TO SUSTAINABILITY AND EXCELLENCE
Table of Contents
Message from the Chair
Commission Member Biographies
Executive Summary
Chapter 1: The Need for Strong Fiscal Action
- The Outlook: Three Scenarios
- Debt and Deficits
- The Economy: How Did We Get Here?
- The Economy: What Lies Ahead?
- Revenue Implications
- Spending Outlook
- Conclusion
Chapter 2: The Fiscal Challenge in Context
Chapter 3: Our Mandate and Approach
- The Commission’s Mandate
- Broad Guidelines for Actions Aimed at Balancing the Budget
- Ambitious for Excellence: A Larger Vision
- What Does Being the Best at Public Policy and Services Look Like?
Chapter 4: Making Transformation Work: Process and Structures
Chapter 5: Health
- Background
- The Cost: Now and Ahead
- Is the Health Care System Sustainable?
- Hard Truths, Measures and Comparisons
- What Is the Opportunity?
- Recommendations to Turn Problems into Realized Opportunities
- Fiscal Issues
- Integrating the Silos into a Health Care System
- LHINs 2.0
- Governance and Structures
- Evidence-based Policy
- Hospitals
- Physicians
- Community Care, Home Care and Long-Term Care
- Health Promotion and Prevention
- Medical Schools/Training
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cost Efficiencies
- Scope of Public Sector
- Reform Process
- Conclusion
Chapter 6: Elementary and Secondary Education
- Historical Context and Recent Trends
- The Current Challenge
- Commission’s Principles and Goals
- Investments for the Future in First Nations Education
- Affordability of the Full-Day Kindergarten Program
- Class Sizes
- Non-Teaching Staff
- Limits to Funded Secondary School Credits
- Encouraging Efficient Student Transportation
- A Comprehensive Resource Plan to Live Within One Per Cent Per Year in Education
- Promoting Evidence-Based Solutions in Special Education
- Reform of Provincial Schools
- Appropriate Incentives for Teachers
- Delivering Services More Efficiently
- Containing Costs of Retirement Benefits
- Promoting an Efficient Labour Market for Teachers
Chapter 7: Post-Secondary Education
- Challenges Ahead
- Need for Clear Objectives
- Status Quo Is Unsustainable
- Thrust of Our Recommendations
- Conclusion
Chapter 8: Social Programs
- The Challenge
- Transforming Ontario’s Benefit Programs
- Child Welfare
- Ontario Child Benefit
- Other Social Programs
- Contributions of the Non-Profit Sector
- Social Impact Bonds
Chapter 9: Employment and Training Services
- Why Provide Employment and Training Services?
- Ontario Labour-Market Challenges
- Employment and Training Services Provided by Ontario Ministries
- Strengthening Labour-Market Information and Evidence-Based Policy
- Leveraging Workforce Planning Boards
- Improving the Link between Training and Economic Development
- Ontario’s Apprenticeship System
Chapter 10: Immigration
Chapter 11: Business Support
Chapter 12: Infrastructure, Real Estate and Electricity
Chapter 13: Environment and Natural Resources
Chapter 14: Justice Sector
- Historical Context
- Commission Principles and Goals for the Justice Sector
- Efficiencies
- Capital Infrastructure
- Federal Government
Chapter 15: Labour Relations and Compensation
- Size of Broader Public-Sector Labour Force and Degree of Unionization
- Trends in Ontario Labour Relations and Employment
- Total Compensation
- The Challenge
- Principles
- A Balanced, Effective and Transparent System
Chapter 16: Operating and Back-Office Expenditures
- Context
- The Challenge
- ServiceOntario Transformation
- Review Existing Agency Mandates
- Expand the Use of Delegated Administrative Authorities to Deliver Regulatory Services
- Use Alternative Service Delivery Options for Information and Information Technology Functions
- Balance the Requirements of Accountability and Efficiency for Government Operations
- Expanding Shared Services to the Broader Public Sector
- Create Efficiencies in the Administration of Transfer Payment and Grant Programs
Chapter 17: Government Business Enterprises
Chapter 18: Revenue Integrity
Chapter 19: Liability Management
- Introduction
- Upcoming Liability Risks
- Environmental Risks
- Risks to Ontario Posed by the Federal Government
- Risks to Ontario Posed by the Municipal Sector
- Unknown Risks
- Taxpayer Protection Act
Chapter 20: Intergovernmental Relations
- Federal-Provincial Relations
- Introduction: Federal-Provincial Context
- Potential Federal Impacts on Ontario’s Fiscal Position
- Areas for Potential Reform
- Working Together to Rationalize Public Services
- Provincial-Municipal Relations
- The Fiscal Relationship
- Recent Historical Provincial Support to Ontario’s Municipalities
- Looking Forward — Provincial Support to Municipalities
- The Province and Municipalities Share the Property Tax Base
- Enhancing Efficiency in the Service Delivery Relationship
