Benefits

Ontario budget proposes changes to workers’ compensation act

April 30, 2017

This past Thursday the government introduced its Ontario Budget omnibus Bill 127 – Stronger, Healthier Ontario (Budget Measures) Act 2017. Among the proposed changes to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act in the bill (see Schedule 33) are measures to remove…

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Class action suit progressing

April 11, 2017

In February 2017 Ontario’s Appeal Court (Castrillo v. Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, 2017 ONCA 121 (CanLII)) gave a green light to a class action lawsuit against the WSIB that applies the legal concept of misfeasance in public office. The court…

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Injured workers: what deeming means to us

April 7, 2017

Despite government promises to eliminate deeming, injured workers remain victims of the WSIB practice under a new name (“determining”). Phantom job, phantom wages : “Deeming” refers to the practice used by the workers’ compensation Board to decide the compensation that it…

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“Caught in bureaucratic limbo” .. struggling to get by

March 23, 2017

“Why a family of six in Oakville is living on $36K a year: the WSIB refused to compensation Steve Rescan, 40, after back issues forced him to stop working” / Lisa Xing (CBC News Toronto, Mar. 22, 2017) A construction…

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Chronic pain and RSI

January 17, 2017

In a recent two-part article for Rabble.ca (Jan. 5, Jan. 7, 2017), Penney Kome argues that failure to properly treat and prevent chronic pain in the workplace is the real issue behind the prescription opioid crisis. Tracing the increase in U.S. workers’…

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On The Agenda: WSIB still up to the task?

December 19, 2016

Last Wednesday (December 14) TVO’s flagship current affairs program “The Agenda” with host Steve Paikin took a look at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario, established more than 100 years ago to administer benefits to injured workers in Ontario, and…

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WSIA amendment introduced

December 13, 2016

The Legislative Assembly has now adjourned until Feb. 21 2017. Before the House rose, the Minister of Health and Long-term Care introduced amendments to various acts, including the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, in response to the federal Criminal Code legislation dealing…

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WSIB President on the air

November 6, 2016

“Injured workers confront WSIB” – podcast (Ontario Today, Nov. 2, 2016) CBC Radio’s noon call-in show, hosted by Rita Celli, continued its coverage of current issues regarding Ontario’s workers’ compensation system. WSIB President Tom Teahan responded to callers on the live show,…

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Injured workers’ advocates speak out on pre-existing conditions policy

October 28, 2016

“WSIB’s ‘devastating’ compensation policy all about board’s bottom line, lawyers charge: Some injured workers have had benefits cut by half since pre-existing conditions policy came into effect” / Ashley Burke (CBC News Ottawa, October 27, 2016) Advocates point to the larger…

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Pre-existing conditions : WSIB trimming the bottom line?

October 27, 2016

“Looking for fairness, not cash for life” – 54-year-old Dan O’Connor’s 19-year career as a paramedic ended 3 years ago after a workplace lower-back injury. Deemed as having reached “maximum medical recovery” by the WSIB, this recipient of a service award from…

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