IWC news

We are happy to announce that IWC is launching a new monthly hybrid meeting (in person and on zoom/telephone) that will combine the educational aspects of our Know Your Rights sessions with the social aspects, peer support, and group activities of an Injured Workers’ Group meeting.  

The meetings will usually take place on the second Wednesday of the month, from 1pm to 3pm. The first hour will include a “Know Your Rights” session, and the second will be a more informal, participatory meeting. You are welcome to join for one or both – we hope to see you at the first meeting this week on April 10.

There will be a few exceptions to the regular schedule throughout the year, so please sign up to IWC’s email list to get the most up-to-date information at tinyurl.com/IWCMailingList

– a champion of Ontario’s community legal system  and the clinics’ role in providing equal access to justice.

IWC joins with the community in honouring former Attorney General Roland Roy McMurtry’s “unparalleled legacy on justice, equality and democracy in Ontario”. Acknowledging his many accomplishments in furthering citizens’ human and constitutional rights, the Association of Community Legal Clinics of Ontario highlights also his pivotal role in “ensuring a robust network of community legal clinics charged with providing legal services for those with low incomes…”  Read the full ACLCO Tribute to Roy McMurtry

• Law Times (Mar. 20, 2024). “Roy McMurtry, Ontario’s former attorney general and chief justice, dies at 91: he is remembered as an advocate for legal aid, bilingualism in the courts, and social justice.”
• CBC News (Mar. 19, 2024).  “Former Ontario attorney general Roy McMurtry dead at 91: McMurtry, a major advocate for human rights, remembered as a ‘giant’ whose vision helped shape Canada.” 
• TVO Ontario (Mar. 19, 2024). “In memoriam: Remembering Roy McMurtry, one of Ontario’s most influential attorneys general.” 

Submission prepared for IWC’s presentation to the Standing Committee on Social Policy (Feb. 12) comments on proposed changes (benefit indexation, occupational disease reform) to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act in Schedule 4 of Bill 149, the Working for Workers Four Act. Clinic highlights that the strong financial position of the WSIB creates an opportunity for the government and the WSIB to fairly rebalance the workers’ compensation system with significant improvements in compensation for injured and ill workers. IWC makes specific recommendations on what should be also included in the Bill: restoration of the wage loss (LOE) benefits to 90% of net earnings; and, addressing poverty among older injured workers, restoration of the loss of retirement income (LRI) benefit to level of the Canada Pension Plan and ending the age 65-based termination of wage loss benefits.

Read full submission >

Download submission

The Ontario Government has recently introduced Bill 149, which it calls the Working for Workers Four Act, 2023. It is proposing changes to a number of labour laws, including the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, which makes the rules for how the WSIB operates.

The proposed changes are not necessarily bad. For example, Bill 149 would improve recognition of esophageal cancer in firefighters, and would give the government the ability (but not the obligation) to adjust injured workers benefits beyond the rate of inflation, if they ever felt like it. Injured & ill workers and their advocates, however, know that deeper changes are needed.

There will be public hearings by the Standing Committee on Social Policy in Committee Room 2 at Queen’s Park, Toronto, on Monday, February 12, 2024 and Tuesday, February 13, 2024. You can attend in person or watch live streaming online at https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/video/committees-room-2

IWC will be presenting with our friends at the Ontario Network of Injured Workers’ Groups (ONIWG) and the Thunder Bay and District Injured Workers’ Group on Monday February 12th around 3:00pm. Tuning in to view presentations from injured & ill workers and their allies will send a clear message to the Provincial Government that there is broad support for these causes, so please check it out if you are able. 

Some other presentations you may be interested in (which can be streamed live at the same link)
Occupational Disease Reform Association: Tuesday February 13th at 10am. 
IAVGO Legal Clinic: Tuesday February 13th at Noon.

In the upcoming January 16, 2024 online Thunder Bay information and advocacy session (10-12 noon), IWC together with Alec Farquhar will lead the tribute to the late Dr S. Ronald Ellis, whose lifelong work promoting fairness in administrative justice and workers’ compensation reform, inspired numerous colleagues and benefited countless Ontario citizens.

Injured Workers Community Legal Clinic regularly participates in providing education and leading discussion on workers’ compensation issues in the weekly zoom sessions hosted by Thunder Bay and District Injured Workers Support Group and Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups. All are welcome – contact tbiwsg@gmail.com to be added to the mailing list to receive notices and Zoom links for upcoming sessions.

On November 23 was the co-recipient of the Ontario Federation of Labour’s Prevention Link Health and Safety Award, which was shared with the staff of IAVGO Legal Clinic. The award, which was given out during the OFL’s 17^th Biennial Convention, was presented in acknowledgement of both clinics’ “fight for injured workers.” It was received on behalf of IWC by Community Legal Worker David Newberry.

Read a copy of David’s remarks on accepting the award.