Ontario's Minister of Community and Social Services has a warning for communities such as Ottawa-Carleton.

John Baird says he's going to take back millions of dollars, unless more people are placed in the government's "workfare" program.

The government established quotas because its was having trouble getting the program rolling.

Municipalities that fail to reach their imposed goals face penalties.

Ottawa-Carleton isn't the only municipality on Baird's list. Thunder Bay, Windsor and London are there as well.

However, the minister has singled out this community.

He says its performance has been disgraceful. Only 17% of its quota has been met so far this year.

"I'll tell you Ottawa will lose millions if they don't shape up," says Baird.

Regional councillor Diane Holmes says this is the sort of bullying she's come to expect from Queen's Park.

Holmes in on the region's Social Services Committee.

She says Ottawa-Carleton is more interested in getting people into full-time jobs, than into workfare.

"His (Baird) target is 3,500 social assistance recipients being put into placements and we have 5,000 people who have left social assistance and moved into full-time employment"

Holmes says if the government was serious about workfare, it would put more money into child-care services.

She says half her welfare cases are families, and there's not enough day-care to let them get out of the house.