INTRODUCTION

The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) is the central labour organization in the province of Ontario.  The OFL has an affiliated union membership of over 600,000 members from all regions of the province with most unions in Ontario affiliated.  Our membership includes nearly every job category and occupation.

Acting as the central labour body, the OFL works in conjunction with the affiliated unions to develop and coordinate policies passed at convention and by our Executive Board.  One of the key roles of the OFL is to influence public policies that affect all working people, their families and communities.

The Ontario Federation of Labour and its affiliated unions wish to applaud the Board of Directors of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) for bringing the issues outlined in the consultation document entitled “Coverage Under The Workplace Safety and Insurance Act” to the stakeholders.

OVERVIEW

As a result of the re-writing of workers’ compensation law in Ontario, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board was created with a new mandate focusing on prevention.  It is difficult to determine how the Board is to meet this broader mandate when 30% of the workplaces in Ontario fall outside the scope of the current Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA).  The Board must have the authority to address prevention initiatives in every workplace in the province.  This can only be achieved through a comprehensive review on coverage with the ultimate conclusion that WSIB coverage must be mandatory for all employers.