The Province of Ontario is holding a general election on February 27th.
Given that workers’ compensation is controlled by the province, this is one opportunity for injured & ill workers and their allies to fight for improvements to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).
Below you will find a collection of resources to help you participate in the upcoming election, from an invitation to an injured worker focussed to debate, to a tool to help you easily contact your MPP, to information on how/when/where to vote.
How To Vote
Here are some resources related to voting:
- Find your electoral riding and the location of the various places you can vote (on voting day or in advanced polls) at elections.on.ca
- Find information about how to vote by mail at votebymail.elections.on.ca (NOTE: you must apply to vote by 6:00pm on February 21, and Elections Ontario must receive your completed voting kit by 6:00pm on February 27 to be counted.
- The Income Security and Advoacy Centre has collected some resources about how to vote on their website here.
Contact Your MPP
The provincial leaders debates contained no reference to the WSIB. If you would like to contact your MPP, the Premeir, and the Minister of Labour to ask them what they are planning to do to fix workers’ compensation, you can fill out the form here.
Get Informed and Participate
The Ontario Network of Injured Worker Groups (ONIWG) wrote a letter to every registered political party in Ontario to ask them about their position on issues related to workers compensation. The letter ONWIG sent to every party – as well as the responses recieved so far – can be found here.
Attending and participating in election town halls and debates is a good way to get informed and to make sure workers’ comp issues are being brought to candidates. You can find information below about relevant town halls and debates.
Here is a handy guide to some of the issues facing injured workers, and some questions you could ask at these events.
All-Candidates Virtual Town Hall on Injured Worker Issues
On Saturday February 22nd from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, an online all-candidates town hall will take place on Zoom that will focus on issues related to workers’ compensation. The debate is being organized by Injured Workers Action for Justice, Justicia for Migrant Workers, and IAVGO Legal Aid Clinic.
You must register to be sent a link to the Zoom meeting.
The focus of the Town Hall meeting will be issues that impact injured workers and concrete strategies for improvement.
Candidates will be asked about their party’s positions on:
- Protecting the rights of injured workers and improving workers’ compensation systems.
- How to address systemic barriers at WSIB that prevent injured workers from accessing justice.
- Measures to protect vulnerable workers impacted by precarious workplaces.
- How to support injured workers and their families during the current rising cost of living crisis.
And more. Register here.
If you have any other questions for candidates on this topic or if you want to reach out to candidates running in your riding, you can email organizer Sang Hun Mun at sang-hun.mun@iavgo.clcj.ca.
Other Debates
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance (AODA) Debate • February 19th, 7:30pm to 9:00pm
Hybrid (on Zoom or in person) • More Information
Social Planning Toronto Community Forum • February 20th, 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Online (on Zoom) • More Information
Income Security and Advoacy Centre Election Forum on Income Security • February 25th, 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Online (on Zoom) • Register Here