Ontario Announces Financial Incentives For “Safe Employers”

On November 22, 2019, the government of Ontario unveiled Supporting Ontario’s Safe Employers. This is an initiative which will formally recognize and provide financial incentives to employers who have successfully implemented an occupational health and safety management system in their workplace. Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer will accredit successful employers. The government states that this program…

Ontario Government Releases Guide on Preventing Workplace Violence in the Health Care Sector

On August 26, 2019, the Ontario government released a guide to help employers, supervisors and workers in hospitals, long-term care homes and private home care facilities better understand their obligations relating to preventing workplace violence under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and the Health Care and Residential Facilities Regulation (O. Reg 67/93).

WSIA “Employment Function” Mental Stress Exclusion Considered by Appellate Court

In Ontario Public Service Employees Union v. The Crown in Right of Ontario (Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services), the Divisional Court recently overturned a 2017 Grievance Settlement Board (GSB) decision that found the grievor’s right to a workplace free of harassment had been violated but that it had no jurisdiction to award damages…

WSIB Rate Framework Policy Consultation Extended (Again)

As we previously reported, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board launched a public consultation on draft policies for the new Rate Framework, which is scheduled to be implemented on January 1, 2020. In October 2017, the deadline for submissions for the Rate Framework Policy Consultation was extended to December 5, 2017. The deadline for submissions…

WSIB Schedule 1 Regulation Amended

On August 31, 2017, the Ontario government filed O. Reg. 348/17 amending O. Reg. 175/98 (General) made under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.  The regulation makes changes to certain industries in which Schedule 1 employers are liable to contribute to the Insurance Fund. Among other things, amendments to Class G – Construction: maintain…

WSIB Rate Framework Implementation Date Set for January 1, 2020

Further to O. Reg. 349/17 which amends O. Reg. 470/16 made under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, the new Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) Rate Framework will be implemented on January 1, 2020, which is one year later than the initial targeted implementation date. As we previously reported, the Rate Framework will fundamentally change…

WSIB Launches Public Consultation on Draft Policies for New Rate Framework

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has launched a public consultation on seven draft policies made in support of its new Rate Framework, which was approved by the WSIB Board of Directors in November 2016. The Rate Framework has a targeted implementation date of January 2019. Comments are invited on the following draft policies:…

Private Member’s Bill Proposes Compulsory WSIB Coverage for Residential Care Facilities and Group Homes

On June 1, 2017, Bill 145, WSIB Coverage for Workers in Residential Care Facilities and Group Homes Act, 2017 was introduced by a member of the Liberal Party. If passed, Bill 145 would amend the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (WSIA) to provide that an employer who operates a residential care facility or a…

Workplace Safety and Insurance Act Amended to Allow Benefit Entitlement for Chronic Mental Stress

The government’s budget implementation legislation, Bill 127, Stronger, Healthier Ontario Act, recently received Royal Assent. Bill 127 includes amendments to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (WSIA) to allow entitlement to chronic mental stress for workplace injuries that occur on or after January 1, 2018. Previously, subsections 13(4) and (5) of the WSIA and…