“Meredith Principles” which founded WSIB are being violated: Caldwell

When the Ontario government introduced its first worker’s compensation system in 1914, it did so based on a report by then Chief Justice of Ontario, Sir William Meredith.

The “Meredith Principles” led the way for worker’s compensation systems throughout North America, and they led directly to Ontario’s WSIB.

Meredith was lauded, upon his death in 1923, for his tremendous achievements in public service. He was undoubtedly a great man.

But the great man might be turning in his grave at St. James Cemetery, Toronto, these days. The workers’ comp system he created with great fairness towards both employers and workers is mired in controversy, 102 years later.

The WSIB still has an unfunded liability around $5-billion (translation: “debt” regarding future obligations).  As it tries to pay this down, thousands of unhappy workers are being denied claims or bled dry through adverse practices.

Has the current WSIB organization forgotten the Meredith Principles?

Sir William Meredith prescribed that employers should be protected from lawsuits by injured workers and be able to calculate payments as a cost of doing business; and injured workers will receive prompt benefits for as long as the disability lasted in a non-adversarial system.

Under these principles, back in 1914, workers gave up their rights to sue employers, saving many employers from bankruptcy when it was proven in court that they had failed to protect worker’s safety. The system was designed to protect both parties. Workers got paid while disabled, which reduced the financial hardship for them and their families.

In 2016, employers are still protected under the system, no worries there. Yet it seems daily we hear of workers being denied benefits by WSIB. WSIB-owned-and-operated clinics, meanwhile, have doctors that override independent MD’s findings on the ability to work of injured workers. See Paper Doctors (Toronto Star).

There is a growing tide against this adverse system and it needs a government review from an independent body. We have to protect workers from financial death, after legitimately being hurt on our Ontario worksites and worksites across the rest of Canada.

What do you say about WSIB?

CARAHS is a Ministry of Labour (Ontario) Approved Working at Heights Training Provider (Pro # 34609) www.carahs.org

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