THE SOLUTION

At the very least restore full cost of living protection.  It’s simple. It’s viable. It’s what fairness demands.

Please see in the kit a copy of draft language proposed by the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups to restore automatic full cost of living adjustments. This includes a provision for retroactive payments.

This wording should be passed immediately by the legislature and restore the integrity of the words of Honourable Bill Wrye that injured workers will no longer have to come cap in hand to the steps of the legislature.

Every year of inaction increases the cost of retroactive payments required.  This is a real cost.  Future protection of benefits is not a real cost and this is well known.  In the words of Paul Weiler who produced the most recent comprehensive study of the compensation system (“Reshaping Workers’ Compensation for Ontario”, a report submitted to Robert G. Elgie, Minister of Labour, November, 1980).

“… Once we award an individual disabled worker a certain share of the real economic pie, our refusal to keep the monetary amount of his pension in line with the changing rate of inflation must mean that someone else in the economy will receive a net increase in his share of real goods and services.  In effect, someone will reap a windfall profit from inflation at the expense of the disabled worker.  In the case of workers’ compensation benefits, the immediate beneficiary of such inaction would be business.” (page 70)

“… But we have been told again and again that Ontario business and the Ontario economy simply cannot afford the cost.  This fear is unjustified.  The explanation is implicit in the very notion of inflation, which consists of changes in money values, not real values.” (page 70)

Injured workers are fed up with excuses. 

There is no legitimate excuse not to provide full cost of living protection.

Now is the time for legislative action to end the indignity and poverty of the present system.