Hamilton & District Injured Workers Group (HDIWG) is calling on individuals and organizations to sign an open letter requesting that the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and Government of Ontario reverses the decision to cut funding to the Injured Workers Outreach Services (IWOS) program. If not reversed, the WSIB will terminate all Injured Worker Outreach Service (IWOS) contracts (affecting 9 injured worker groups across Ontario) effective June 30, 2026, with no explanation provided.
HDIWG and other Ontario injured workers groups provide vital and irreplaceable community-based services including free peer support to help deal with the financial and emotional consequences of workplace injury and illness; education on rights and how to navigate a complex workers’ compensation system; advocacy for positive change. As noted by HDIWG in its open letter, these trusted services “cannot be replaced by an updated website… particularly when many injured workers lack reliable access to computers or face barriers navigating technology.”