In the News

Follow the Toronto Star investigative series on Ontario's workers' compensation [read here]

Tip of the iceberg

May 7, 2018

In the recently published Parkland Institute study Safer by Design: How Alberta Can Improve Workplace Safety, authors Jared Matsunaga-Turnbull and Bob Barnetson offer recommendations to address the unacceptable (and underestimated) number of workplace injuries and illnesses through better preventive measures, occupational…

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Communities across Ontario held ceremonies Friday and over the weekend to commemorate the national Day of Mourning. Injured workers speaking at these events brought home the horrendous reality behind the numbers (227 Ontario fatalities in 2017 from occupational injury or…

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Under review – work-related cancer & compensation

April 15, 2018

“Work-related cancer compensation to be reviewed by province” (CBC News, April 13, 2018) This past Friday Minister of Labour Kevin Flynn announced the launch of a review of how occupational cancers are evaluated for workers’ compensation so “the system works properly for…

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“Monumental legislation” will help keep temp workers safe – but there’s a long way to go

March 13, 2018

On March 8th, the Minister of Labour announced to the Toronto Star that the province would make a small but significant change to the way employers are punished when a worker gets injured. The change – which injured workers and their advocates…

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Justice Bike Ride 2018 – the impact of occupational disease

March 11, 2018

“Memorial ride to honour late miner who inspired McIntyre Powder Project” / Lindsay Kelly (Northern Ontario Business, Mar. 9, 2018) The 2018 Justice for Injured Workers’ Bike Ride , this year in Northern Ontario, will include the route between Massey and Elliott…

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Study on emotional impacts of McIntyre Powder seeks participants

February 12, 2018

Danielle Aubin, a Laurentian University student in the master’s program in interdisciplinary health, would like to interview miners for her study “After the dust settles”. The former Elliot Lake resident is investigating the emotional impacts on underground miners required to breathe in…

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Welcoming Injured Workers of Wellington and Dufferin Counties

February 1, 2018

“New Guelph-based organization aims to support workers injured on the job” / Jessia Lovell (Guelph Mercury, Jan. 31, 2018) Last Friday a new injured workers group held its first meeting in the local UNIFOR hall on Silvercreek Parkway, Guelph. Among those attending…

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Injured workers: taking an extra hit

January 8, 2018

“Injured workers losing out on Ontario’s wage bump. Here’s why” / Sara Mojtehedzadeh (Hamilton Spectator, Toronto Star Jan. 8, 2018) – with Letters to the editor in response (Jan 13). — While supporting the $15 & Fairness minimum wage campaign, injured workers…

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Board’s “pre-existing conditions” policy change and review

December 15, 2017

“WSIB to abolish policy that slashed benefits for thousands.” / Sara Mojtehedzadeh (Toronto Star, Dec. 15, 2017) Responding to widespread criticism that it blames injuries on pre-existing conditions that had no impact on workers before their injury, Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance…

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When workers die: the woeful state of OH&S regulation

November 30, 2017

“Penalties when workers die on the job don’t go far enough, say labour groups, families” / Jacques Marcoux, Kristin Annable (CBC News, Nov. 30, 2017) According to the most recent statistics available from the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada, in…

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