News

Date: January 24, 2023
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Location: virtual meeting by Zoom or telephone

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– Health, Injured workers & Workers’ Compensation: Some Rethinking –

Dear Friends,

We hope you and your families are well. This will be our 54th year of working with the injured worker community! We would like to invite you to join us at our Annual General Meeting. Come and hear a report on current issues in workers’ compensation and the activities of the past year.

Our keynote speaker this year is IWC board member Robert Storey, recently retired from the Sociology Department of McMaster University. Robert has written extensively on workers’ compensation issues and will share his analysis of how society has defined “health,” how that has affected injured workers and workers’ compensation and what that means for rebuilding the injured worker movement.

The community legal clinic has a volunteer Board of Directors that is accountable to our funder Legal Aid Ontario along with the IWC staff, for the management of the clinic. For more information about the Board see the message below and our website: iwclc.org

The past few years have been very challenging. IWC survived the cuts to legal clinic funding and then the pandemic and we continue to stand up for injured workers. We would like to thank you for your involvement and support.

To join our online meeting by Zoom, register and a link will be sent to you by email.

• Register at this this website before the meeting: https://tinyurl.com/mwjeznrd
• If you prefer to join by telephone, before the day of the meeting call/leave a message at 416 461-2411 / 1 833 461-2411 to arrange this.
• If you need accommodations please call the number above or email info@iwc.clcj.ca

Sincerely,
INJURED WORKERS COMMUNITY LEGAL CLINIC
Per:
Correen, Chris, Rebecca, David, Audrey, Kathrin, Tebasum, Orlando, Francis & John

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Injured Workers Community Legal Clinic’s Board

IWC is a non-profit community‐based organization funded by Legal Aid Ontario that has been serving injured workers free of charge since 1969 through legal services, law reform, public legal education, and community development. The Clinic works for and with injured workers. As an organization we work collaboratively and are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

We have a volunteer Board of Directors that consists of injured workers and supporters from the broader injured worker community of researchers, advocates and activists. The Board oversees the clinic’s general performance and community accountability, provides input on law and policy reform, reviews policy, provides advice on programs and activities. The Board term is two years. The Clinic serves injured workers across the province and we welcome volunteers from any region. An election will be held at the January 24^th Annual General Meeting. We currently have nominees approved by the recruitment committee to fill all of the Board positions coming open this year. However we welcome interested volunteers and there are opportunities for those not elected to the Board to assist the work of the clinic.

Board members actively participate (by video, phone or in-person) in 9 regular meetings a year, a strategic planning session with staff, and the Annual General Meeting. Directors can also volunteer for committees dealing with specific issues. Training and other supports are provided.

If you are interested in joining our Board in the future or want to learn more about what that involves please contact David Newberry (ext. 25) at 416 461-2411 / 1 833 461-2411 or david.newberry@iwc.clcj.ca

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Agenda (pdf)
Auditor’s Report 2021-22 (pdf)

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Agenda

6:00
Land acknowledgment
Moment of silence
Welcome & introductions

6:15 * Presentation by guest speaker Robert Storey: Health, Injured Workers & Workers’ Compensation: Some Rethinking (followed by discussion)

7:15 * Report on past year activities

7:30 * Business meeting (members only)
– Board of Directors election
– Auditor’s Report 2021-22
– Appointment of auditors

8:00 * Adjourn

This first workshop of the new year will take place on January 25, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. and focus on a general introduction to the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB): What benefits exist? What kind of evidence is best? What is the best way to ensure you receive the things you are entitled to?

We know how complex the system is, and how it often leaves injured workers in the dark. Throughout the workshop, we will hear from experts as they guide injured workers on the different procedures, forms, benefits and timelines, after an injury from the workplace. We will also talk about some recent workers’ comp reform efforts that have been in the news, and have a special guest speaker.

You can attend in-person or virtually (via zoom) or in person at IWC’s office (details will be sent after registration). If you plan to attend  – online or in person – we ask that you register by clicking HERE or following this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcrf-uvrDMrH9JfU5qj4F4b-vqwUGldY1do

The event will provide general information on how the WSIB works, and include a Q&A session. Due to time constraints and privacy concerns, we will not be able to discuss specific cases, but we will provide details on how you can receive one-on-one advice about your case if you need it. 

While supporting the WSIB’s approach to align Temporary Employment Agency (TEA) rates with the rates of their clients’ classes, the Clinic details why the proposed modification to create an exception for “clerical labour” is not appropriate…

Read full submission

The Injured Workers Community Legal Clinic (IWC) invites you to the Know Your Rights Workshop on November 30th at 11am. After our first Know Your Rights Workshop on how to navigate WSIB, we heard your feedback: you want more workshops, and would like events that focus on specific topics.

WORKSHOP 2: What happens if I have a longer term injury and am unable to work?

After a quick rundown of WSIB benefits overall (What benefits am I entitled to? How do I get them? etc.), we will focus on:

• Loss of Earrings Benefits (such as long term benefits recalculations, cost of living increases)
• Non-Economic Loss Benefits (what do I get once it is determined my injury is permanent?)
• Healthcare Benefits (how long can I keep getting coverage for treatment and medications?)
• Loss of Retirement Income Benefits (what are they? how do I get them?)

We know how complex the system is, and how it often leaves injured workers in the dark. Throughout the workshop, we will hear from experts as they guide injured workers on the different procedures, forms, benefits and timelines, after an injury from the workplace.

We will also give you information and invite you to join in a University of Waterloo study on injured worker poverty in retirement years.

You can attend in-person or virtually (zoom). If you plan to attend – online or in person – we ask that you RSVP by clicking HERE or this link: https://forms.gle/yQFZFcpj4wJstwBp7
The in-person workshop will be at the IWC office: 815 Danforth Avenue, suite 411, Toronto.

**Note: this workshop does not provide 1-on-1 case advice, though it will include information about where you can find that**

Submission notes that almost all of the benefits outlined in the Independent Living Policy Suite legally (under ss. 32, 33 of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act) are and should continue to be available to all injured workers – not only those defined by the WSIB as “severely impaired.” Brief also makes recommendations on criteria for admittance, cost and amount of the Independent Living Allowance, timing and review of benefit availability.

Read full submission

The Injured Workers Community Legal Clinic (IWC) invites you to the Know Your Rights Workshop on October 26, 2022 at 11am. The first workshop of many will focus on an introduction to the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) – we know how complex the system is, and often, leaves injured workers in the dark. Throughout the workshop, we will hear from experts as they guide injured workers on the different procedures, forms, benefits and timelines, after an injury from the workplace.

The workshop will take place after the Ontario Network of Injured Workers’ Groups (ONIWG) has had its general meeting. We will hear from the new ONIWG leadership and injured workers will also have a chance to share their experiences and find a place of solidarity and understanding.

You can attend in person or virtually (zoom). If you plan to attend – online or in person – we ask that you RSVP by clicking HERE or this link: https://forms.gle/AmeyfdtvWE2WYUY86.

The workshop will be at the IWC office: 815 Danforth Avenue, suite 411, Toronto.