WSIB Premium Freeze for Non-Profit Groups in Ontario

Pete Fisher
5 years ago
• Categories: Provincial

Workplace insurance rate increases will be frozen for all non-profits in Ontario, David Piccini, MPP for Northumberland Peterborough-South, and Dave Smith, MPP for PeterboroughKawartha, announced today. The move comes after the Ontario government stepped in and worked with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) to halt planned increases.

The freeze was announced on the same day the WSIB introduced its new Premium Rate Framework. The change will result in a 17 per cent reduction on the WSIB’s average premium rate. By WSIB eliminating its unfunded liability charge, $607 million remains in the provincial economy which will now be available for job creation, new technology, and health and safety programs.

Without a freeze, nearly 2,700 non-profits including daycares, legions, YMCAs, charities, women’s shelters and others would have faced increases in their workplace safety insurance premiums. In the case of Legions, most were facing increases as high as 300 per cent. Their rates will now be frozen for five years.

Approximately three quarters of employers paying WSIB premiums will see a rate decrease under the new system, including 1,600 non-profits whose rate decrease will be applied in January 2020. These costs are falling while benefits to injured workers are maintained and workplace safety continues to improve.

QUOTES
“We stepped in because we recognize the important role the non-profit sector plays in the lives of people across this province, including in Northumberland-Peterborough South,” said MPP David Piccini. “This freeze will benefit valuable community-based organizations, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough.”

“Non-Profits like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough are absolutely crucial to the wellbeing of our community,” said MPP Dave Smith. “With this, I am pleased to report that our government has successfully requested WSIB freeze all rate increases for non-profits. These organizations keep our community thriving and enhance the everyday quality of life for so many individuals. I am incredibly pleased with this news and look forward to continue to work along side our non-profit organizations.”

“This is wonderful news for Big Brothers Big Sisters locally and across the Province,” said Mark Shuwera, Executive Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough. “We are a small organization that works extremely hard to secure the funding necessary to enhance the lives of many children in the City and County of Peterborough. Every dollar saved as a result of this rate freeze can be used to help match the children we serve with positive adult role models.”

“We understand these organizations are run by dedicated people and often operate on shoestring budgets,” said Minister McNaughton. “We get it. That’s why we asked the WSIB to take this measure. Because it’ll help valuable community-based organizations that serve Ontario’s most vulnerable citizens.”

QUICK FACTS

· Over 4,600 non-profit organizations in Ontario are registered with the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB).

· They include women’s shelters, daycares, YMCAs, soup kitchens, art galleries, churches, addiction recovery centres, theatres, nursery schools, foodbanks, hospices, retirement homes, children’s aid societies, animal shelters, Legions, museums, rape crisis centres, and more.

· Over 300,000 employers in Ontario are registered with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s to receive coverage for some five million employees.

· In September 2018 the Ontario government announced the elimination of the unfunded liability, along with an almost 30 per cent decrease in premiums starting in January 2019.

· In January 2020, the elimination of the WSIB unfunded liability charge will lead to $607 million remaining in the provincial economy. Those funds will now be available for job creation, new technology, and health and safety programs.