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Province responds to criticism over WSIB job cuts in northern Ontario

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The provincial government says it shares concerns about the impact of Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) job cuts, in response to criticism from both the Ontario NDP and Liberals over the decision to eliminate hundreds of positions and close northern offices.

Last week, the WSIB informed 238 employees in Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay and Timmins that their positions would be eliminated. 55 of those jobs are based in Thunder Bay.

The cuts have drawn criticism from Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP Lise Vaugeois and Ontario Liberal Leader John Fraser, both of whom have called for the decision to be reversed.

In a statement provided to the Acadia newsroom, the office of Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland said the government has raised concerns directly with WSIB leadership.

“While the WSIB is an independent, arm’s-length agency responsible for its own operational and staffing decisions, I share the concerns being expressed in our community and have spoken directly with WSIB CEO Jeff Lang about the impact this decision will have on workers, families, and local businesses,” the statement reads.

Holland said Labour Minister David Piccini has also been involved in discussions and that injured workers should not see any interruption in services.

“I have also spoken with Labour Minister David Piccini and have been assured that our government expects the WSIB to continue delivering the income replacement, health care, and return-to-work supports that injured workers rely on. Front-line staff, including Return-to-Work Specialists, will continue serving workers in Thunder Bay-Atikokan, and injured workers should experience no disruption in service.”

Vaugeois has argued the cuts will weaken northern representation within the WSIB and questioned why the agency is reducing its workforce despite its financial position. She has also suggested the move could signal a shift toward increased reliance on artificial intelligence in service delivery, a claim the WSIB has denied.

The Liberals have likewise condemned the decision, with Fraser urging northern residents and Progressive Conservative cabinet ministers to push for the layoffs and office closures to be reversed.

The province noted that the WSIB has committed to providing affected workers with career counselling, resume assistance, job-search support, continued benefits and mental health resources during the transition.

“Our government will continue standing up for the workers and families affected by this decision while advocating for the investment, job creation, and economic growth that Thunder Bay-Atikokan deserves,” the statement concludes.

Lise Vaugeois Nov 3 205

Vaugeois: NDP “ramping up” campaign to reverse WSIB job cuts

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Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP Lise Vaugeois is joining calls for the province’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) to reverse a decision that will eliminate hundreds of jobs and close regional offices across northern Ontario.

On Thursday, 238 WSIB employees in Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay and Timmins were informed their positions would be cut as northern offices are set to close. The remaining jobs will be moved elsewhere in the province.

In an interview with the Acadia newsroom on Friday, Ontario Liberal Leader John Fraser urged northern residents and cabinet ministers Greg Rickford, George Pirie and Victor Fedeli to push for the decision to be reversed.

Lise Vaugeois said opposition MPPs are preparing to intensify efforts to pressure the WSIB into reconsidering.

“We definitely want to see this decision reversed. We’ll be reaching out to Conservative MPPs and asking for their support. We’re already hearing from various unions and building trades saying this is not a positive thing. We are getting organized so we can work together and get the decision rolled back,” Vaugeois said.

Vaugeois said maintaining a northern presence within the WSIB is essential to ensuring workers’ concerns are properly understood and addressed.

“There is no reason to be cutting these positions,” Vaugeois said. “It’s so important to have northern representation. If all WSIB workers move to southern Ontario, they’ll have absolutely no idea what people living here are dealing with or how difficult it can be to access services such as medical appointments.”

Of the 238 positions being eliminated across northern Ontario, 55 are based in Thunder Bay.

“We’re losing permanent people from our communities. Many people were let go, and the rest of the workers were given 15 days to decide whether to take a buyout or move to southern Ontario. The WSIB is in a surplus position, so I really question why they are doing this in the first place. How does this improve service for injured workers?”

Vaugeois raised concerns that the workforce reduction may be aimed at replacing human-delivered services with AI-based alternatives.

“Now, the WSIB is denying this at the moment, but we know where this is going. We’re going to see AI decision makers […] it’s difficult enough as it is to explain your individual circumstances to a case manager, especially if they don’t live in the north. Now imagine explaining that to an algorithm. You need to talk to a human about your human set of circumstances.”

She mentioned concerns raised during last year’s WSIB strike, arguing that cutting staff will only worsen existing workload pressures.

“A big part of [the striker’s] concerns were being overburdened with too many cases. Because of that, they can’t give the proper care and compassion to people when their lives have been turned upside down by a serious injury.”

Vaugeois said she has seen firsthand the toll WSIB-related stress can take on both workers and claimants.

“I’ve seen suicides from people working for the WSIB and suicides from people trying to get support from the WSIB. And now instead of improving the workload by adding more workers, they’re actually eliminating almost 500 [province-wide]. That seems like punishment, frankly, for the strike. It’s a kick in the face to those workers and a kick in the face to people who have been injured or made ill on the job.”

The Progressive Conservative government has been contacted for comment. This story will be updated if a response is received.

John Fraser Sept 22 2025

“Total disconnect”: Liberal leader slams WSIB job cuts and northern Ontario office closures

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Ontario Liberal and NDP representatives are criticizing the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)’s decision to cut hundreds of jobs and close regional offices across northern Ontario.

On Thursday, 238 WSIB workers in Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay and Timmins learned their positions will be eliminated, as northern offices are set to close. The remaining jobs will be moved elsewhere in the province.

In an interview with Acadia on Friday, Interim Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party John Fraser condemned Premier Doug Ford’s government for the cuts, arguing northern communities are already dealing with economic pressures, including layoffs, plant closures and high unemployment.

“It’s just a total disconnect from what the government should be doing, which should be protecting these jobs in the north,” Fraser said.

Fraser added that Northern Ontario faces unique challenges, including long distances between communities and industries such as mining and forestry that have specialized workplace health and safety needs.

“You can’t run everything from downtown offices in Toronto. Ontario is a big place. You need to spread those services around the province. The local realities are often that people need to travel farther to get healthcare, it’s harder to get some services, and home care is more difficult depending on the community you’re in,” he said.

Fraser is also calling on both the public and northern cabinet ministers (specifically Greg Rickford, Georgie Pirie and Victor Fedeli) to push for the decision to be reversed.

“Northerners need to speak up and let their members of government know how wrong this is. I’m shocked that there are three ministers in the north and yet this is still happening. They should be screaming bloody murder. Why are you taking these good jobs? The Premier can reverse this, and the ministers in the north should be moving internally to undo this,” he said.

The Progressive Conservative government has been contacted for comment. This story will be updated if a response is received.

PAUL WOZNEY_1

Teachers, parents say education cuts risk leaving thousands of vulnerable students without needed support

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Education workers and librarians across Nova Scotia say more than 20,000 students are reading below grade level, raising concerns as the provincial government moves to cut support staff, according to NDP education critic Paul Wozney.

At a press conference in Halifax on Tuesday, Wozney was joined by Nova Scotia Teachers Union President Peter Day, who noted more than 80 positions are set to be eliminated by September.

This comes just over a month after Education Minister Brendan Maguire announced plans to eliminate 150 positions, about 47 of which have been vacant for years.

Day said he’s particularly concerned about the loss of specialized roles, including math and literacy coaches, mentors, and intervention teachers—positions that support classroom educators and work directly with students who have complex academic, behavioural, and emotional needs.

“Removing these positions creates a significant gap in our public education system and will have real consequences for students and classrooms.”

‘Failing to provide evidence-based reading instruction is considered discrimination’

Wozney said provincial data shows fewer than half of Grade 3 students meet writing standards, half of Grade 6 students fall short, and one in three Grade 8 students struggles to read at grade level — each statistic representing a student being left behind.

Louise Hanavan, a parent and co-founder of Literacy Justice Nova Scotia, said she is speaking for families who need a voice, calling on the government to give every child a fair chance to succeed.

Hanavan said the data means one in three Nova Scotia children enters high school unable to read well enough to learn, adding that “the Supreme Court of Canada has affirmed that learning to read is a basic human right and the responsibility of public-school systems across this country.”

She and other members of Literacy Justice Nova Scotia have begun the process of filing a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, noting Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan have all found that failing to provide evidence-based reading instruction is considered discrimination.

They are also calling on the Houston government to fund and implement a remedial literacy plan for older students by September.

‘Once experienced teachers leave Nova Scotia, it can be incredibly difficult to bring them back’

Wozney raised concerns about the ongoing teacher shortage, saying cutting staff will further strain the system.

“That will inevitably have a negative impact on the learning conditions and school safety. The government may believe it is saving money through these cuts, but the reality is that the students and families will pay the price.”

Day added, “If the government has decided that Nova Scotia needs fewer teachers, there is a very real possibility that other provinces and territories will move quickly to recruit these highly skilled professionals.

“Other provinces are actively investing in public education and working to attract educators. Once experienced teachers leave Nova Scotia, it can be incredibly difficult to bring them back.”

‘Come this time next year, I believe you’re going to see a very real profound negative effect on student achievement’

Wozney also addressed the planned shut down of five community library branches scheduled to close on July 20 due to a lack of funding, including buildings in Hantsport, Kentville, Lawrencetown, Middleton, and Port Williams.

“These communities are going to feel this impact for a generation. The cost of keeping them open is substantially less than the cost of rebooting and relaunching down the road,” he stated.

Hanavan added that, “public libraries exist in our communities as an equalizing force and a space where everyone has access to books but also to programs and other kinds of materials that can be accessed regardless of your ability.”

She emphasized that accessible learning options like these are essential for people with impairments, highlighting that if you or someone you know is struggling, “there’s something there at the library for you, and it’s free.”

Day said schools are already struggling to meet students’ needs, and removing supports at such a critical time only makes that harder.