WSIB system is broken, needs fixing

We couldn't stand by and let WSIB CEO, Tom Teahen get away with his misleading claim that injured workers will not be affected adversely by a 30 per cent reduction in insurance premium rates for employers. These reductions will lead to a reduction in revenues that are critical to ensure that workers' claims for injury and disease are justly compensated.

Such a reduction will lead to an eventual austerity program similar to what the board implemented between 2009 and 2015 under then CEO David Marshal. During that austerity era, the board doubled the number of denied claims for schedule 1 employers. We also saw a 123 per cent increase in rebates to employers for questionable safety improvements largely achieved through claims suppression aided by the Board's practice of denying claims without solid evidence. In fact, a review by the Industrial Accident Victims Group of Ontario of appeal decisions made by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals tribunal during that period, found that the Tribunal concluded that many of the board's denials were made on the basis of "no evidence".

This scandalous practice, never addressed by government, and that in essence cheated workers out of just compensation, gives the lie to Tom Teahen's claim that Board decision are made on the basis of "the best scientific evidence" and with "integrity and fairness ...”

According to former head of the tribunal, Ron Ellis, this scandalous practice demands a major public inquiry and over-haul of the WSIB.

It is about time that the Ontario government exercised its oversight over this broken system and initiate such an undertaking instead of showering companies with unearned rewards.

Robert and Dale DeMatteo, Campbellcroft