For 10 years Lanark County has had a partnership with Rideau Community Health Services, which saw them provide substance use counselling services for residents on Ontario Works.
It looks like it’s coming to an end this summer after the Community Services Committee voted Wednesday in favour to terminate the agreement. However, a motion still must pass through county council before it’s made official.
The province made changes in 2024 to Ontario Works which included no longer funding these types of services for clients.
Those changes, on top of the contracted counsellor retiring on July 31st, triggered a review of the program
The province shedding costs continues to be a point of frustration for councillor Toby Randell.
Ontario Works Manager Buffy Armour was asked what would be made of the near 60 clients using the service.
Staff proposed a second option which would see a similar program start up that would be 100% municipally funded, but the committee voted in favour to terminate the existing program instead.
Story by Grant Deme