Diseases & injuries

IWC submission to the Standing Committee on Bill 149

February 9, 2024

Submission prepared for IWC’s presentation to the Standing Committee on Social Policy (Feb. 12) comments on proposed changes (benefit indexation, occupational disease reform) to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act in Schedule 4 of Bill 149, the Working for Workers Four Act.…

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ODRA submission to the Standing Committee on Bill 149

February 2, 2024

Submission prepared for ODRA presentation Feb. 13 to the the Standing Committee on Social Policy draws attention to what is missing in Bill 149. While supporting addition of an esophageal cancer presumption for firefighters, the Alliance details why “such piecemeal provisions do…

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IWC submission on WSIB’s draft policy on communicable illnesses

March 28, 2023

IWC supports the WSIB initiative to develop a policy for communicable illnesses but identifies a number of concerns, among which that it is highly restrictive, fails to apply the standard test for causation and the principle of individualized assessment.…

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OLCWCN submission re Communicable illnesses policy consultation

March 28, 2023

The Network’s submission on the proposed draft policy makes detailed recommendations that would ensure entitlement decision-making for communicable illness claims is guided by the evidentiary principles of Ontario’s workers’ compensation law. The OLWCN also strongly supports those submissions calling for a separate…

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Thunder Bay injured workers: Media advisory – International Day of Persons with Disabilities

December 1, 2022

On December 3rd, annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Thunder Bay & District Injured Workers Support Group will be holding a virtual media conference and hosting a gathering to share our stories, update the community of our…

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IWC submission on Temporary Employment Agency Rate Setting (clerical work exemption)

November 16, 2022

While IWC support the WSIB’s approach to align Temporary Employment Agency (TEA) rates with the rates of their clients’ classes, the Clinic details in its second submission why the proposed modification to create an exception for “clerical labour” is not appropriate……

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IWC submission re draft occupational disease framework

February 28, 2022

Submission urges that the WSIB respect Meredith’s concept that occupational disease should be put on “the same footing” as workplace accidents, and that the WSIB Policy framework should adopt the same evidentiary standard of “Significant contributing factor” in order to bring some…

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Deputation regarding Bill 238 (WSIB COVID relief)

March 9, 2021

Presentation to the Standing Committee on General Government by Injured Workers Community Legal Clinic on behalf of the OLCWCN addresses Bill 238 which caps WSIB premiums for large employers. Deputation proposes three better uses of a WSIB COVID relief bill that would…

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UN highlights the unique challenges faced by disabled injured workers during COVID-19

May 19, 2020

UN High Commissioner on Human Rights recently sounded the alarm that Canadians living with disabilities – including permanently injured workers – face disproportionate challenges during the pandemic… In the six weeks that have followed the WSIB’s bailout for employers, no measures have…

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Letter to the WSIB President re: Black mental health and COVID-19

April 23, 2020

Letter to the WSIB President on the group’s support of the government’s Bill 178 which recognizes black mental health awareness specifically and that provision of health care service should be culturally appropriate. As such, WOI requests the WSIB to put together a…

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