In Ontario, we need a workers' compensations system that fully compensates and supports those who have suffered a workplace injury or illness and survivors, assists such workers in returning to employment with dignity; and which aids in protecting all workers from injury or illness at work.

Justice for Injured Workers means the following:

§ The Workers' Compensation system

• Rename the board to Workers' Compensation Board
• Publicly administered
• Collective employer liability
• Primary purpose to compensate injured workers and survivors
• Recognize and compensate all work-related occupational injuries and diseases
• Inclusive no-fault coverage of all workers
• Eliminatess experience rating
• Regular public review of the Act

§ Adjudication

• Timely
• Accessible and responsive to injured workers
• Less bureaucratic
• Provided by trained and compassionate adjudicators
• In the language of the injured worker
• Provide written clear information to workers about the system and their claim
• Penalize non-reporting and underreporting of claims by employers

§ Compensation

• Full coverage that reflects full income loss into retirement and loss to quality of life
• Continue benefits by employer or established minimum provided by WCB
• Eliminate deeming
• Establish a minimum wage loss benefit
• Full cost of living
• Protect injured workers' right to CPP and eliminate CPP deduction from benefits
• Improve benefits and support for survivors of workers who die from occupational injury or disease, including non-dependent survivors
• Benefits for secondary victims of occupational disease

§ Health Care

• The same as for all Canadians
• Provide time to heal
• Worker right to choose health care provider and alternative treatment
• No employer medical exams
• Respect workers' doctors
• Board doctors and nurse case managers to have no role in adjudication

§ Vocational and Social Rehabilitation

• Comprehensive and consultative with injured worker
• Recognize and compensate for injured workers' limitations
• Hands-on by WSIB locating opportunities and providing accommodations for suitable employment
• Joint return to work committees in unionized workplaces
• Penalties for employers who refuse to continue to employ or provide phoney or unsafe return to work
• Quality public rehabilitation service
• Provide for English as a Second Language

§ Access to Justice

• The WSIB will not act on an adversarial basis
• Cases based on merit and benefit of doubt being applied
• Eliminate time limits for worker appeals
• Employer right to appeal limited to initial entitlement and return to work
• Full disclosure of all documents and information related to claim to Injured Worker
• Restricted employer information on claim access
• An independent, competent tripartitie Tribunal not bound by Board policy

§ Funded Arms Length Programmes

• Sufficient funding for free representation programs such as the Office of the Worker Adviser, community legal clinics and legal caid certificates
• Proper funding for support systems such as the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers

Previous reports:
"The 1999 Injured Workers' report on workers' compensation in Ontario" [pdf]