Are cuts coming to workers' compensation?

Over the past 6 months injured workers have been subjected to a barrage of reports that have created a discourse of cutbacks at the highest levels of Ontario's Workers Compensation Board (WSIB) and the Ministry of Labour. These include the KPMG Value for Money audit of the Labour Market Re-entry (LMR) Program, The WSIB Chair's Consultation report, the Auditor General's 2009 report and the announcement of a new narcotics strategy for workers suffering chronic pain.

Why do injured workers believe cuts are coming? What is their response?

On February 24th, 2010, the Legislative Assembly's Standing Committee on Public Accounts met to consider the Auditor General's 2009 report, inviting the WCB to make presentations on section 3.14, "unfunded liability", an alleged financial crisis in Ontario's workers' compensation system.

Injured workers and their representatives were unable to present their testimony in person before the Committee but have submitted their clear concerns about the Auditor General's report and the information upon which the recommendations were based:

  • "Who Paid for the WCB's 'Unfunded Liability' in the Harris years?" [pdf]
  • Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups (ONIWG) letter of concern to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (April 20, 2010) [pdf]
  • ONIWG Submission to the Standing Committee re the Auditor General's 2009 report (June 1, 2010)[pdf]
  • Injured Workers Speakers School letter (with analysis) to the Standing Committee (May 28, 2010) [pdf]
  • Injured Workers Consultants (IWC) Submission on the Auditor General's report (June 1, 2010)[pdf]
  • Hamilton Community Legal Clinic Submission on the Auditor General's report (June 2, 2010) [pdf]

In February 2010 KPMG's Value-for-Money Audit of the WSIB's LMR Program (Dec. 2009) was also released.

  • Injured Workers' Consultants initial analysis of the KPMG Value for Money LMR Report (May 2010) [pdf]

The Board's new Narcotic Strategy, which came into effect February 2010 and restricts the allowance of long-acting painkillers for non-cancer pain, has drawn strong and swift reaction: