Media Release

Injured Workers Demand Ford Government Stop the Gutting of the Workers Compensation System – WSIB

September 9, 2025

The Thunder Bay & District Injured Workers Support Group (TBDIWSG) will be holding a Media Conference on Monday, September 14 at 6 PM, at the OPSEU Building, 326 Memorial Ave., Thunder Bay.

With the recent announcement that the WSIB will be closing all their offices in Northern Ontario and laying off 460 staff, the System is in free fall.

At the same time, the WSIB is introducing AI to replace staff, the WSIB is suppressing at least 40,000 claims each year, and the provincial government has introduced legislation to create more barriers for injured and ill workers, it’s time the Ford Government actually works for workers instead of working for corporations.

 “With Doug Ford sending billions of dollars from the WSIB accident fund to big corporations, we thought it was time to hold them accountable to the people the system was created to serve” said Eugene Lefrancois president of TBDIWSG.

At a time when many corporations are showing record profits, and regular folk are struggling to pay their bills, this government is selling out the workers who built our province.

The Thunder Bay & District Injured Workers Support Group has been at the forefront of achieving improvements and removing barriers for workers with disabilities across Ontario and has developed a national and international reputation.  We have been engaged bringing the voices and lived experience of injured and disabled workers to the public and political discourse for 40 years.

Everyone is welcome to attend. 

For more information, contact TBDIWSG at 807-622 8897 or Steve Mantis at 807-630-7824