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Happy Family Day

February 17, 2020

A shout-out to all injured-worker support units for their strength and resilience. First introduced to Canada in 1990, Family Day falls on the third Monday of February. Family Day was designed to reflect the values of support, home and belonging, as well…

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Research study on injured worker retirement income seeks participants

February 13, 2020

Participants are wanted for a University of Waterloo research study focusing on Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) policies and what they mean for injured workers’ retirement pensions, financial security, and well-being. The specific purpose of this study is to examine how…

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How to reduce poverty?

January 21, 2020

December 2019 the Ontario government announced a consultation on the next five-year Poverty Reduction Strategy. According to Ministry figures, one in seven Ontarians live in poverty. Several recent reports provide a closer look at the social and economic dimensions of poverty.…

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The year in review

December 31, 2019

A look back at some of the events and issues impacting injured workers this past year: January Minister of Labour launches review of occupational cancer to be led by Dr Paul Demers, with report due by the end of November. Experts call…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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