News Release – ONTARIO APPOINTS SPECIAL ADVISORS TO REVIEW WORKPLACE SAFETY AND INSURANCE BOARD

REVIEW WILL HELP ENSURE PROTECTION FOR WORKERS AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE INSURANCE FUND

The Ontario government is launching a review of the Workplace Safety
and Insurance Board (WSIB) to ensure workers and their families
remain supported and protected in the workplace. The review will
provide the government with new information regarding the board’s
operations and how it compares to industry best practices.

Specifically, the operational review will focus on:

* Financial Oversight: sustainability of the WSIB insurance fund
and controls over it
* Administration: effectiveness of the current WSIB governance and
executive management structure
* Efficiency: the cost-efficiency and effectiveness of operations,
including comparisons to competing jurisdictions and private sector
insurers “Ensuring the long-term sustainability of the WSIB will provide
workers and their families with peace of mind, knowing if they are
injured on the job or have a work-related illness, they will receive
the benefits and services they are entitled to,” said Laurie Scott,
Minister of Labour. “Reviewing and improving the WSIB is one of the
ways our government is ensuring that Ontario can continue to attract
investment and create good jobs.”

The review will be conducted by Linda Regner Dykeman and Sean Speer, who have been appointed based on their respective areas of expertise in insurance and public policy. The review will commence immediately, and a report to the Minister is expected by the end of the year.

QUICK FACTS

* The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is an independent trust
agency that administers compensation and no-fault insurance for
Ontario workplaces.
* On September 26, 2018, the government announced that premium
rates for employers would be reduced on average by almost 30 per
cent, starting January 1, 2019 due to the elimination of the
WSIB’s unfunded liability. This will help employers save money,
increase investment and create more jobs, resulting in a $1.45
billion injection into the Ontario economy.
* On November 15, 2018, the Minister of Finance’s Fall Economic
Statement 2018 noted the government’s intent to review the
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to assess whether risks are
being appropriately considered while ensuring rate predictability
and to confirm whether the Board is operating efficiently.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Special Advisors Appointed to Conduct Review of the Workplace
Safety and Insurance Board

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Learn more about the review


CONTACTS
Janet Deline
Communications Branch
416-326-7405
[email protected]

Christine Bujold
Minister’s Office
416-325-6955
[email protected]

Ministry of Labour
http://www.ontario.ca/labour

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