On April 14, 2011, the Ontario Ministry of Labour announced public consultations relating to the proposed amalgamation of 13 Childrens’ Aid Societies ("CASs”).

The initiative was proposed by the Commission to Promote Sustainable Child Welfare (the “Commission”), which the Ontario government established in 2009. In part, the Commission is tasked with supporting the financial sustainability and viability of CASs over the long-term through the exploration of measures that may streamline and enhance access.

Based on the Commission’s sustainability criteria, 13 CASs have been identified as potential “Phase I” candidates for amalgamation. Two additional CASs have been identified as “logical partners” for amalgamation, and are currently engaged in an amalgamation planning process.

As part of this initiative, the Ministry of Labour is holding public consultations on whether Ontario Regulation 458/97 (Application of the Act) should be amended to expand the application of the Public Sector Labour Relations Transition Act (“PSLRTA”) to include the amalgamation of two or more prescribed Phase I or “partner” CASs, where the Phase I or “partner” CASs in question and their unions have voluntarily agreed to its applicability.

The PSLRTA provides the statutory framework for amalgamation, restructuring and integration of certain broader public sector entities.

The amalgamation of CASs was outlined in the government’s 2011 Budget.

Stakeholders and interested parties are invited to comment on this proposal before May 29, 2011.

For more information on sector-specific developments in this area, register for our June 2, 2011 conference, "Child and Youth Services in Transition: Mergers, Shared Services and Alternative Bargaining Structures".