Law reform

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.…

Download IWC submission to the Standing Committee on Bill 149 Continue reading IWC submission to the Standing Committee on Bill 149

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…

Download ODRA submission to the Standing Committee on Bill 149 Continue reading ODRA submission to the Standing Committee on Bill 149

ONIWG-RAC submission to the Standing Committee on Bill 149

February 2, 2024

While supporting the Bill’s introduction of an additional indexing factor for workers’ compensation benefits, the submission proposes additional measures to address injured worker poverty: adjusting the WSIB Loss of Retirement Income so it equals the losses in contributions to the Canada Pension…

Download ONIWG-RAC submission to the Standing Committee on Bill 149 Continue reading ONIWG-RAC submission to the Standing Committee on Bill 149

ONIWG-RAC submission to pre-budget hearings

January 31, 2024

Presentation to the Ontario Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Finance Economic Affairs pre-budget hearings in Thunder Bay focuses on cost-shifting from the WSIB to provincial coffers and the financial impacts of the current workers’ compensation system.…

Download ONIWG-RAC submission to pre-budget hearings Continue reading ONIWG-RAC submission to pre-budget hearings

ONIWG letter re New Years’ resolutions

January 23, 2024

“New Years Resolutions” for the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and Minister of Labour collected from injured workers and their allies make clear that changes are urgently needed to have Ontario’s workers compensation system serve their needs better and more justly.…

Download ONIWG letter re New Years’ resolutions Continue reading ONIWG letter re New Years’ resolutions

ONIWG-RAC letter to Minister of Labour re Bill 149

January 8, 2024

Followup to letter of Nov. 23, 2023. ONIWG encourages the Minister to amend the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act provisions in Bill 149, Working for Workers Act Four, by increasing the percentage of of the Loss of Retirement so it…

Download ONIWG-RAC letter to Minister of Labour re Bill 149 Continue reading ONIWG-RAC letter to Minister of Labour re Bill 149

OLCWCN letter to the Minister of Labour re Bill 149

November 27, 2023

The Network proposes amendments to schedule 4 of the Working for Workers Four Act that would decrease the poverty of injured workers: restore the Loss of Earnings benefit rate to 90% of net pre-injury earnings; restore the WSIB’s contribution to the Loss…

Download OLCWCN letter to the Minister of Labour re Bill 149 Continue reading OLCWCN letter to the Minister of Labour re Bill 149

ONIWG demands openness & fairness in consultation process that proposes sweeping changes

July 21, 2023

ONIWG demands changes to the undemocratic consultation process for gathering feedback on changes recommended by KMPG’s value for money audit of the dispute resolution and appeals system. The Group argues that not only is the timeframe unreasonably short, but thousands of injured…

Download ONIWG demands openness & fairness in consultation process that proposes sweeping changes Continue reading ONIWG demands openness & fairness in consultation process that proposes sweeping changes

IWC submission re WSIB consultation process on changes to the appeals system

July 21, 2023

Submission addresses the lack of true consultation with those most affected – injured workers – on the major changes proposed and erosion of the right to appeal, based on recommendations of the KPMG Value for Money Audit of the dispute resolution and…

Download IWC submission re WSIB consultation process on changes to the appeals system Continue reading IWC submission re WSIB consultation process on changes to the appeals system

Complaint to the Ombudsman regarding WSIB drastically reducing time to appeal

April 25, 2023

Following a community consultation, Thunder Bay injured workers group and IWC call for a meeting with the Ombudsman to address WSIB response to key recommendations made by the KPMG Value for Money Audit of the appeal system, in particular the proposed drastic…

Download Complaint to the Ombudsman regarding WSIB drastically reducing time to appeal Continue reading Complaint to the Ombudsman regarding WSIB drastically reducing time to appeal