Recent documents are in both PDF and html formats but all may be available in alternate formats on request.
Letter to the Minister of Labour on Employer assessments
After Board announces no increases in employer assessments, group asks why the Funding Review recommendations on these and full indexation of benefits are being ignored.
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Re [Harry Arthurs’ recommendations on the unfunded liability]
Despite recommendations of the Funding Review report, the government has not implemented rate increases or full cost-of living adjustments of benefits.
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Re Downside risk on new Appeals Readiness Form
Letter to the Fair Practices Commission recommending removal of the reference to downside risk in order to end its chilling effect on injured workers seeking to appeal.
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Brief commentary on occupational disease benefits issues and Bill 76
Bill 76 contains half-measures; it fails to address the injustice of workers dying of compensible illnesses, often with long latency periods, who receive no entitlement to lost earnings if not diagnosed before they have retired or left the workforce. Submission also proposes a more fair calculation of earnings basis for the survivors benefit.
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Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs pre-budget consultations
Group calls for implementation of Arthurs’ recommendations; discusses cost-shifting from employer to the individual and the public purse; permanent disability and injured worker poverty and unemployment.
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Re Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal access to justice for injured workers
Network urges the Tribunal to address the flood of appeals resulting from the increase in WSIB negative decisions by ensuring they have adequate resources to continue their high standards of administrative justice – to reduce delays without cutting back on oral hearings.
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Deputation to People’ Budget process
Presentation on 2013 budget calls for full COLA (as in the 2007 budget) and addresses policies that cut costs on the backs of injured workers, downloading compensation onto social assistance, the municipality and property tax system – precisely what Meredith’s system was designed to avoid.
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Injured worker response to new appeal changes
Submission details concerns discussed at a special meeting of injured workers, attended by the Fair Practices Commissioner. Among recommendations, paper calls on the Board to eliminate the Intent to Object form, remove the reference to downside risk, restore time limit extensions and create a simpler, more accessible appeals system.
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A review of WSIB case scenarios
Presentation to the WSIB Benefits Policy Consultation discusses fallacies in the Board’s scenarios of “aggravation basis” and overcompensation, recurrences, permanent impairments; treatment of workers with degenerative conditions that is creating a windfall for employers; KPMG influence on proposed policies.
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Submission to WSIB Benefits Policy Review
Injured workers with real experience in dealing with the Board respond angrily to the case scenarios issued by the Board, stories carefully drafted to garner support for additional erosion of benefits rather than assist policy review. In the proposals, Group urges no change to implementation of the rules.
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