Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups (ONIWG) is challenging the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s (WSIB) unreasonable calculation of the annual cost-of-living adjustment for 2022…
Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups
127 Ravenwood Ave.
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 4H7
oniwgexec@gmail.com
For immediate release:
Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups Seeks Fair Cost-of-Living Adjustment for Injured Workers
Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups (ONIWG) is challenging the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s (WSIB) unreasonable calculation of the annual cost-of-living adjustment for 2022.
The WSIB adjusts workers benefits every year for inflation. It is legally mandated to follow the formula set out in the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA), but it refuses to do so. This year, it set the indexing rate at 2.7%. By law, the rate should be 4.7%. That is a 2% loss for injured workers.
Janet Paterson, ONIWG President, states: “Earlier this year, we called on Premier Ford to meet with us and instruct the WSIB to properly apply the law and WSIB policy. We received no response. As a result, we are asking the Court to review WSIB’s unreasonable decision to give injured workers 2% less than what they are owed in 2022.”
Section 49(1) of the WSIA states: “an indexing factor shall be calculated that is equal to the amount of the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for Canada for all items, for the 12-month period ending on October 31 of the previous year, as published by Statistics Canada.”
Section 49(1) of the WSIA is unequivocal: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) change is to be calculated based on the change between the CPI on October 31, 2020 and the CPI on October 31, 2021. The percentage change between October 31, 2020 and October 31, 2021 was 4.7% (see The Daily – Consumer Price Index, October 2021 (statcan.gc.ca)).
As the price of everyday life continues to rise, and housing, food, and energy become more unaffordable, a 2% increase could help an injured worker fill their gas tank, feed their children, or pay their phone bill. Ultimately, settling for a 2.7% increase will mean that injured workers continue to struggle despite being entitled to more under the WSIA.
It is disappointing that we must turn to the Courts to ensure that WSIB does the bare minimum: apply the law and give injured workers the money to which they are entitled.
This application is being filed during ONWIG’s week of action for injured workers, which started on December 12, 2022.
For more information, please contact:
Janet Paterson
ONIWG President
Phone number: 807-472-6910
Anna Rotman and Emily McBain-Ashfield
RavenLaw LLP
Counsel for ONIWG
Email: arotman@ravenlaw.com or emcbain-ashfield@ravenlaw.com
Phone: 613-567-2901
Download Media release: ONIWG seeks fair cost-of-living adjustment for injured workers