WSIB Cuts 466 Jobs to Consolidate Ontario Operations

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is cutting 466 permanent jobs across Ontario to consolidate claim and account management functions. The layoffs affect staff in ten locations, including Kingston, Sudbury, Windsor, Thunder Bay, St. Catharines, Guelph, Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay, Timmins, and Waterloo. An additional 155 jobs are expected to be cut in approximately one year.

The agency described the move as a "difficult business decision" intended to modernize service delivery. To assist affected staff, the board is offering relocation opportunities and mental health support. These cuts follow an August 5 announcement by Treasury Board President Peter Bethlenfalvy that the WSIB is one of eight provincial agencies undergoing efficiency and productivity reviews.

Harry Goslin, president of the Ontario Compensation Employees Union, condemned the layoffs as a "direct attack" on workers and their families. Goslin warned that the reductions will cause service delays for injured workers and undermine regional economies, particularly in Northern Ontario. While the WSIB maintains it will continue to provide local support, union and political critics argue the consolidation betrays the workforce.