March 11, 2010

Workers Safety & Insurance Board reform

Ontario General Contractors Association applauds plan for WSIB advisory committee

VINCE VERSACE

staff writer

The call for creating permanent stakeholder advisory committees at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is a progressive move by the WSIB, says the head of a construction industry task force.

“That recommendation recognizes that if you are going to make changes and make the system better, you need to talk to those most involved,” said Clive Thurston, chair of the construction industry WSIB task force and president of the Ontario General Contractors Association

“Setting up these committees is an excellent first step to achieving that.”

The WSIB recently released a stakeholder consultation report that emerged from a five-point plan to help reshape and develop a fiscally sound foundation for the board. WSIB chairman Steve Mahoney authored the report that recommends forming four permanent advisory committees representing the construction sector, general business, small business and labour and injured workers.

“The dialogue with stakeholders does not end with this consultation exercise,” wrote Mahoney. “We are committed to further examination and discussion on the key themes presented, including the establishment of permanent stakeholder advisory committees.”

Creating one committee for the construction sector and another for labour and injured workers is important and practical, said Thurston. He said there could be a role for subcommittees mixing employers and employees, but believes the primary committees should be clearly defined.

“The WSIB is an insurance program developed for employers to provide to their workers. Employers need to be able to speak freely and be represented clearly at the WSIB as should labour, but not in the same committee,” explained Thurston.

Mahoney commented that the consultation process was a success between the WSIB and the people it serves, describing it as “positive, two-way communication.

“Stakeholders shared their concerns and at the same time, learned about the complexity of the WSIB’s mandate,” said Mahoney in the report.

Thurston noted that a large number of the report’s recommendations were generated by task force members, in particular the advisory committee suggestion. The ability to find workable solutions for issues such as experience rating, accreditation and a new model for a premium rates has been strengthened thanks to the report and its commitment to ongoing dialogue, he said.

“The key thing you want is a system that encourages people to be in it and continuing to improve it,” said Thurston. “The report gets that and illustrates what we are seeing in our day-to-day negotiations with the WSIB. They understand the issues at hand. There has been terrific co-operation over the past year and the report is balanced.”

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