Ontario is moving toward amending the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA) to promote the long-term stability of the workers' compensation system, according to a press release.
Proposed changes to the WSIA would, if passed, allow the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) to review Loss of Earnings benefits after 72 months — currently benefits are generally 'locked in' after 72 months, even if an injured worker's condition improves or they rejoin the workforce, and base survivor benefits on the average earnings of the deceased worker's occupation or trade rather than the statutory minimum currently provided under the Act.
“Our government is helping employers and workers find better ways to get people back to work,” said Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Labour. “The proposed amendments would also help ensure fairness for the survivors of those who die from occupational disease."
These proposed amendments will be introduced once the Legislature resumes. Ontario is the only province in Canada to ‘lock in’ Loss of Earnings benefits after 72 months, according to the news release.
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board was created in 1915 as the Workmen’s Compensation Board, through an Act of the Ontario government.
