WSIB changes won’t put people’s benefits at risk

I was concerned to read Wednesday’s editorial suggesting that people’s benefits may be at risk. This is simply not true. The truth is that people’s WSIB benefits are now safer than ever.

The recent elimination of our unfunded liability (UFL) - the shortfall between the money needed to pay future benefits and the money in the insurance fund - safeguards Ontario’s workplace health and safety system.

It means that people who are hurt or become ill as a result of their work can have confidence we will be here to help them now, and into the future. It also means that Ontario businesses, who have been contributing to paying down the burden of the UFL, are in line for average premium rate reductions. But one does not come at the expense of the other.

We are here to help people recover and return to work and want everyone to receive the compensation they deserve. The integrity and fairness of our system is critical. We process approximately 250,000 claims each year and take the responsibility for each claim we receive very seriously. We have to base our decisions on scientific evidence and as science evolves we’re always looking for new information that may help with our evidence-based decision making.

In the case of past GE Peterborough claims, people brought forward new information and we reviewed each claim individually to apply any new evidence as well as updated scientific research that linked chemical exposure to particular diseases. Our focus was providing Peterborough families with answers and closure and we are confident our decisions reflect the most updated scientific research and all available evidence.

Our vision is to make Ontario the safest and healthiest place to work and set the standard for outcomes in recovery, return to work, occupational health care and claims decision-making. Tom Teahen, WSIB president and CEO