Advocate Releases "Buying the Ticket" Report on Making Public Services Better, Faster, and More Human
The New Brunswick Advocate, Kelly Lamrock, has released a new report, "Buying the Ticket": How the Community Sector Can Make Our Public Services Better, Faster, and More Human, calling for a new relationship between government and community organizations that focuses on results for people, earlier intervention, and less administrative burden.
The report was developed through an eight-month province-wide consultation process led by the Advocate's Office in partnership with United Way. It included six regional consultations, more than 30 in-depth interviews, 31 online submissions, and a 7-member advisory committee that reviewed the recommendations for feasibility and to ensure they reflected on-the-ground realities.
"For years, government has centralized resources but failed to deliver results. Government takes years to do things that help early, and then spends millions more dealing with broken people in crisis. This report sets out a plan to get the resources in the hands of the real difference-makers – non-profits and communities whose success is defined by helping people, not following rulebooks."
The report's title comes from the story of two 19-year-olds living in a tent who had housing and supports waiting in their home community, but no way to get there. When government rules would not allow any program to cover the bus fare, a local non-profit used its own operating funds to buy two tickets. Its leader explained: "We're client-centred, not program-centred."
The report calls for changes including:
Creating a Non-Profit Opportunities Unit to coordinate government-community partnerships, streamline funding and procurement, and reduce duplication.
Moving toward predictable, multi-year funding and a shared workforce strategy so community organizations can plan, retain staff, and focus on service delivery.
Replacing activity-based reporting with outcome-based accountability, with government and community organizations jointly defining and measuring results.
Using tools such as social entrepreneurship contracts and other outcome-based funding models to invest earlier in prevention and support approaches that produce measurable results.
The report argues that community organizations should be treated as essential co-providers of public services, with government setting clear goals and ensuring equitable resources while giving community partners greater flexibility to respond to local needs.
Media Contact:
Justine Estey, Director of Communications and Policy Advocacy, justine.estey@gnb.ca
