TBDSSAB appeals to provincial government at ROMA 2026

Representatives from the District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board (TBDSSAB) have returned to Thunder Bay following efforts to lobby the province at the 2026 Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference.

TBDSSAB CEO Ken Ranta says the agency’s delegates met with several provincial ministers to advocate for a string of rule changes, funding grants, pilot programs, and other provincial supports.

Ranta feels that provincial officials “were very engaged,” and seemed receptive to many of TBDSSAB’s appeals.

“No grand announcements released at the time of the meetings, but I left with a pretty positive feeling,” Ranta remarks.

The social services agency requested more licensed childcare spaces from the Ministry of Education, arguing that TBDSSAB always makes full use of the spaces they are allocated.

With the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, TBDDSAB delegates pushed for more funds for affordable housing.

“Over the last number of years we’ve been able to build hundreds of units with the funding they provided,” Ranta explains, “and always finished on time, always finished within budget.”

In a meeting with the Ministry of Children, Communities, and Social Services, the agency pushed for what Ranta describes as “nuanced changes in the regulations” for individuals seeking harm reduction and substance use treatments, suggesting that those on social assistance be more eligible for certain medical treatments.

The agency also took advantage of the conference to network with other services from around the province.

“The discussions that we can have with them, and then learn from them on how they’re addressing and dealing with certain issues that we also may be facing, is hugely beneficial,” Ranta says.