Blog

Changes to Ontario’s legal aid system

December 16, 2019

Injured workers and other vulnerable communities learned last week of the changes the Ford government is proposing in its overhaul of Ontario’s legal aid system. Promising “modernization” and greater efficiencies, a new Legal Aid Services Act, 2019 was introduced in the Legislative…

Continue Reading Changes to Ontario’s legal aid system

Auditor General finds Ministry of Labour health & safety enforcement lacking

December 5, 2019

As an injured worker advocate, I see many workers in economic vulnerability and in precarious and unsafe working conditions. I see workers who think of their workplace injuries every day, who think about “what if the factory actually kept to their safety…

Continue Reading Auditor General finds Ministry of Labour health & safety enforcement lacking

New study on language barriers in workers’ compensation

December 5, 2019

A Summary and Reflection on Language Barriers and Workers’ Compensation Access in Ontario and Quebec / Stephanie Premji, Momtaz Begum, Alex Medley, Ellen MacEachen, Ron Saunders. Hamilton: McMaster University. School of Labour Studies, 2019 Oct. Established in the 1900s, the purpose of…

Continue Reading New study on language barriers in workers’ compensation

Focus on workers, rights and disability

December 1, 2019

International Day of Persons with Disabilities, an occasion observed annually on December 3 since 1992, launches a weeklong series of events putting the focus on disability rights, inclusion and accessibility. In joining the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons…

Continue Reading Focus on workers, rights and disability

Precarious workers and return to work

November 26, 2019

How do precarious workers access workers’ compensation and return to work accommodation? How do power imbalances, aggressive WSIB deeming and vocational rehabilitation practices affect the low-wage injured worker? What are the barriers to meaningful access by Ontario’s migrant workers to return to…

Continue Reading Precarious workers and return to work

Investigating WCBs and painkiller addiction – request for participation

November 14, 2019

Globe and Mail investigative reporter Kathy Tomlinson is researching if and how workers’ compensation systems across Canada lead injured workers to take addictive painkillers for long periods – and how that affects people’s lives. In particular, she will be looking at whether…

Continue Reading Investigating WCBs and painkiller addiction – request for participation

Injured worker activist honoured

November 7, 2019

Last Friday Catherine Fenech, a long-time leader in the fight for fair workers’ compensation and better workplace safety, received the award for injured worker activism at Toronto’s Health & Safety Activist Awards event. Her powerful acceptance speech on the toll of workplace…

Continue Reading Injured worker activist honoured

What every injured worker needs to know

November 1, 2019

Where to start after your workplace injury or illness? Navigating Ontario’s workers’ compensation system can be stressful. The Ontario Legal Clinics’ Workers’ Compensation Network has recently prepared What Every Injured worker Needs to Know, ** a practical 24-page guide to help…

Continue Reading What every injured worker needs to know

Support legal aid for injured workers – rally Oct 24

October 21, 2019

When you have trouble with the WSIB, will there be help? The Ontario government has significantly cut funding to legal aid, but provincial clinics focusing on injured workers and workers’ rights suffered a disproportionate blow. IAVGO Community Legal Clinic, Workers’ Health &…

Continue Reading Support legal aid for injured workers – rally Oct 24

In the news … worker protections

October 12, 2019

Recent media coverage highlights a disturbing lack of progress on longstanding problems raised repeatedly by legal clinics, health and safety advocates and community groups regarding adequate worker protections and safety, compensation and rights. Temporary agency workers – outrage continues over the death …

Continue Reading In the news … worker protections

« Previous Page