The Ontario government is proposing to expand Workplace Safety and Insurance Board coverage to thousands of additional frontline care workers, a move it says will strengthen workplace protections across the province.
If passed, the legislation would extend mandatory WSIB coverage to an estimated 29,000 workers in privately operated residential care facilities, retirement homes, and group homes. The change is aimed at closing long-standing gaps that have left some workers without coverage if they are injured or become ill on the job.
Labour Minister David Piccini said the expansion would ensure more consistent protections across the sector. He noted that frontline care workers provide essential services and deserve the same level of coverage regardless of whether they work in publicly or privately operated facilities.
The proposed changes would align protections for workers such as personal support workers, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, and operations staff. The WSIB currently provides wage-loss benefits, medical coverage, and return-to-work support to more than five million workers across Ontario.
WSIB President and CEO Jeff Lang said the organization is prepared to support additional workers if the legislation is approved, emphasizing its role in helping injured employees recover and safely return to work.
However, the announcement has drawn criticism from labour organizations, who argue the expansion does not go far enough. CUPE Ontario says more than 1.5 million workers in the province still lack mandatory WSIB coverage, including many in physically demanding sectors such as childcare.
CUPE Ontario president Fred Hahn called the move a “half measure,” arguing the province should move toward universal coverage to ensure all workers are protected. He said without mandatory requirements, some employers may continue to opt out of providing WSIB protection.
Similar concerns were raised by the Ontario Compensation Employees Union, which represents workers within the WSIB system. Union president Harry Goslin said nearly one in four Ontario workers currently lack coverage, calling the situation a crisis that requires immediate action.
Goslin added that universal coverage could provide economic benefits while reducing strain on the healthcare system, but also warned the expansion could increase workloads for existing WSIB staff. A government-imposed hiring freeze, he said, may create additional challenges for workers already managing high caseloads.
The province says the proposed legislation is part of a broader package of measures aimed at improving worker protections and supporting economic growth. Any changes would need to pass through the legislative process before taking effect.
