THUNDER BAY – The Ontario Network of Injured Workers’ Groups (ONIWG) made their case for the province to look further into shifting expenses to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).
Led by committee chair Steve Mantis, the group spoke with the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs on Wednesday about a cost shifting to provincial coffers in areas such as health care, income support, community services, and retirement.
“If the WSIB were paying their fair share, then the government would have these funds available to invest in other important programs that people need,” Mantis said.
“Because WSIB is not paying their fair share, it is creating an ongoing hazard in terms of the health of our workers, our community and our society as a whole.”
Mantis noted that the frequency of injuries or lost time on the job has increased by 30,000 people - or 50 per cent - between 2019 and 2022.
Mantis also spoke with the committee about the long-term consequences of Occupational Health and Workers Compensation and moving towards an equitable tax revenue stream for the future success of Ontario.
Mantis couldn’t determine why there has been a spike in injuries.
“As our economy puts more precarious workers in place, people are less willing to say something happened because they're afraid of losing their job, the opportunity for promotion or ongoing employment," he said.
“Our research shows that between 40 and 50 per cent of injuries never get reported at all because of these factors. Workers are now being seen as disposable rather than the most important asset of their company.”
Liberal Member of Provincial Parliament Andrea Hazell sits on the committee and said claims that don’t get reported are from those with a second language or those who are underrepresented.
“That hurts because it's the family that gets impacted so it lowers the income threshold. They experience food insecurity,” Hazell said.
“The percentage of injured workers that don’t speak up is very high, and we need to stop it. We need to find a way to educate the workers and to be fair through the system.
The provincial budget is anticipated to be presented in March.
