IWC news

– 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.

IWC workshop to be held Monday, November 27th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. will focus on Deeming/Determining in Ontario and beyond. We will hear from experts and advocates about what to expect if you are on WSIB wage loss benefits and what kind of information to gather from your doctor. We will also will hear about a significant recent legal victory relating to the way migrant workers are deemed in Ontario.

The workshop will be delivered in-person and virtually (hybrid). Registration is required. You can register by clicking here or using this link: tinyurl.com/KYRNov27 .

Workshop will include:

• Review of recent workers’ compensation news stories
• Brief overview of deeming/determining policy and some tips on gathering medical information for an appeal
• Special guest: Maryth Yachnin (IAVGO Legal Clinic) to speak about a recent WSIAT Tribunal case relating to how WSIB deems migrant workers in Ontario

In person details:

IWC is located at 815 Danforth Ave suite 411, Toronto. We encourage participants to wear a mask throughout the workshop.

Note: 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.