Injured workers are being thrown into poverty.  The current workers’ compensation legislation, Bill 99, (Workers’ Compensation Reform Act, 1997, effective 1998) is producing poverty.

The very least the government of Dalton McGuinty can do, is to restore full cost of living protection.

THE HISTORY

The Historic Compromise

When the Workers’ Compensation system first came into place back in 1915 it was based on what is known as the “historic compromise.” Employers would be protected from being sued by injured workers; workers would receive no-fault compensation benefits in a non-adversarial system.  Both parties were to be economically protected in the process.

Inflation Protection

When the Workers’ Compensation system first came into place back in 1915, inflation was not an issue.

By the 70’s and 80’s injured workers saw their benefits swallowed up by inflation.  Eventually the government responded.  The Liberals under David Peterson passed Bill 81 in 1985 with stirring words by the Minister of Labour, Honourable Bill Wrye.

… In future, all claimants will be assured, as a matter of statutory right, of an annual adjustment which takes into account the effects of inflation.

The pain, the loss, the disruption and the disorientation caused to a worker and his or her family by a disabling injury is suffering enough. We should never add to this suffering the indignity of having to come cap in hand to the steps of the Legislature angrily demanding merely the protection of compensation benefits from the annual rate of inflation. From this day forward, injured workers will never again be in that humiliating position.

It passed with all party consent.