Positioning Bulletin
The OAYEC Positioning Bulletin shares OAYEC's positions, values and/or activities related to the youth employment sector, and is available the first Monday of every month.
Welcome to the new OAYEC Positioning Bulletin. In the past, our e-bulletins have focused on many topics, and were relevant to youth employment policy and operations. We are now focusing on one topic per bulletin, and on government relations or strategic communications issues exclusively. If you have feedback or would like to get involved, please contact Ilana David at 416-323-9557 ext. 222 or idavid@oayec.org.
The Goal of this e-bulletin is to engage our members and subscribers in the policy and strategic communications initiatives of OAYEC.
TOPIC for October 2nd, 2006:
The Job Connect Coalition
What is the Job Connect Coalition?
The Job Connect Coalition ("the Coalition") is a partnership between the Ontario Association of Youth Employment Centres (OAYEC), the Job Connect College Sector Committee (JCCSC), the Ontario Association of Help Centres (OAHC) and the Collaborative of Adult Employment Centres in Ontario (CAECO). Representing three sectors of Job Connect deliverers, the Coalition was created with the goal of positioning Job Connect as a platform for growth under the LMDA, and taking a pro-active approach to maintaining the stability of the model.
The Coalition Messages
The Coalition has released a document entitled "Job Connect and the LMDA: Key Messages from the Job Connect Coalition" (click here to view the document), which outlines the strengths of the Job Connect program, and the advantages of using it as a model for future developments. The willingness of Job Connect deliverers to take a leadership role in ensuring a smooth transition under the LMDA is also discussed.
While this document is written with specific reference to Job Connect, the Coalition realizes that labour market programs often change names, and will evolve to accommodate a changing landscape. The messages put forth are intended to highlight advantages of the current model, and its adaptability in the face of inevitable change.
The Coalition does not seek to promote Job Connect over federally-funded programs, but rather to support the aspects of Job Connect that contribute to a strong system of labour market service delivery in Ontario.
The Coalition Timeline
| March 2006 | • | The Job Connect Coalition is formed |
| May 2006 | • | Representatives from the three sectors meet with Julie Lee, Senior Policy Advisor to the Honourable Chris Bentley, Minister of Training, Colleges & Universities |
| June 2006 | • | "Job Connect and the LMDA: Key Messages from the Job Connect Coalition" document is released, and delivered to Julie Lee and Minister Bentley |
| July 2006 | • | "Job Connect and the LMDA: Key Messages from the Job Connect Coalition" document is delivered to key MTCU bureaucrats: Sue Forrester, Mario Bruyere, June Fox-Casey, Susan Kulcyzki |
| September 2006 | • | Job Connect deliverers meet with MPPs across the province to deliver the key messages |
| • | Key members of the Coalition meet with Kevin French, Assistant Deputy Minister to deliver the key messages | |
| • | Request in process for London-area Job Connect deliverers and a representative of the Coalition to meet with Minister Bentley to deliver the key messages |
Engaging the Field
One current objective of the Coalition is to engage Job Connect deliverers in meetings with their MPPs to discuss the Coalition's key messages. At this point, Job Connect deliverers from all three Job Connect sectors across Ontario have received the Key Messages document and many agencies have weighed in with their thoughts. The feedback has been positive overall, with deliverers offering their support for the Coalition's messages.
To outline some of the subtleties of the messages, OAYEC interviewed Steve Cordes, Executive Director of Youth Opportunities Unlimited in London. He will be supporting the Coalition by coordinating a meeting with Chris Bentley, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, and the local MPP in London West.
Steve notes that our messages are very focused on the name "Job Connect", as opposed to the strengths of the model, and the experience of its deliverers in providing employment services in the community. Decision-makers may get stuck on the name, and have difficulty separating it from the services that we provide as Job Connect deliverers. The names and frameworks of labour market programs do inevitably change, thus our emphasis should be on the core service delivery model we currently use as opposed to the name or brand of that model.
Steve also recognizes both the advantages and disadvantages in combining the efforts of three Job Connect sectors. Certainly the unified front presented by the Coalition strengthens the broad message about the benefits of Job Connect services. Diverse client groups are represented, presenting a global appeal to the messages and the Job Connect model in general. However, in terms of OAYEC's role in the Coalition, Steve comments that we must not lose sight of our mission to represent the interests of youth specifically. The Coalition, representing different sectors and different client groups, does not allow the opportunity to highlight issues pertaining to youth, as they are not currently a Job Connect priority. Thus, OAYEC will have to ensure that our advocacy for employment services to youth remains strong in addition to our work with the Coalition.
Results So Far
The messages of the Coalition have spurred many meetings between deliverers and their local MPPs, and so far, the feedback from politicians has been positive. One particular success story was a meeting organized by deliverers in Northern Ontario with Howard Hampton, MPP for Kenora-Rainy River. Hampton responded to information provided by the Job Connect representative with informed questions about Job Connect and the key messages. He was fully engaged in the meeting, and expressed interest in learning more about the activities of the Job Connect centres, and perhaps even having a Job Connect placement at his office!
Next Steps
As a member of the Job Connect Coalition, OAYEC will continue to be a part of ongoing awareness-raising and discussions around the role of Job Connect in the face of the LMDA. It is our hope that the Coalition's efforts will ensure that successful labour market program delivery models are high on the province's radar when the LMDA comes into effect in January.
The Job Connect Coalition has made every attempt to keep deliverers in all three sectors informed and engaged in its work through distribution of documents, updates, and coordination of conference calls to keep local centres connected and discuss feedback. OAYEC, on behalf of the Coalition, would love to hear any additional comments, questions or concerns you may have. Please feel free to contact us at (416) 323-9557 or idavid@oayec.org.
The GO TO organization for youth employment issues.
The OAYEC Positioning Bulletin is a monthly newsletter provided by the Ontario Association of Youth Employment Centres. OAYEC's mission is to support and advocate for a sustainable youth employment delivery network.
Feedback, comments, and suggestions for future Positioning Bulletins are welcome!
Contact: Ilana David, Researcher, idavid@oayec.org
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