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Workplace Safety and Insurance Board

Ministry
Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
URL
www.wsib.on.ca
Address
200 Front Street West, Ground Floor
Toronto
M5V3J1
Phone
416-344-1000/ 1-800-387-0750
Fax
416-344-4684\ 1-888-313-7373
Background
Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, S.O. 1997, c. 16, Sched. A, Part XIII, ss. 159(1) (opens a new window)
Function

The board is responsible for administering the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 as amended and its regulations. It raises funds from the province's employers in order to promote health and safety in workplaces, facilitate return to work and labour market re-entry and provide compensation to workers who are injured on the job or who become ill as a result of working conditions. Compensation includes the payment of health care expenses, payment for wages lost as a result of occupational injury or disease, a wide range of return to work, labour market re-entry and medical rehabilitation services, permanent disability pensions and death benefits to surviving dependents.

Membership

The Lieutenant Governor in Council appoints the chair, the president and a minimum of seven and a maximum of nine members who are representative of workers, employers and such others as the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers appropriate. The Lieutenant Governor in Council consults with the chair and the members of the board before appointing the president. The chair decides which member of the board of directors is to act as chair in his or her absence. If the chair does not do so, the board of directors may decide which member is to act in the chair's absence.

Qualifications

•    Superior communications and stakeholder/public relations skills.
•    Be perceptive, diplomatic and have the ability to keep abreast of trends in the labour, business, political and related fields.  Reporting to the legislature through the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, political acuity and experience working in a legislative regime is critical.
•    Must possess skills and competencies in the following areas:

  • Finance: Analytics, Audit, Finance, Pension Plan Oversight
  • Governance: Board of Directors Experience, Corporate/Public Sector Governance.
  • Operations/Business: Customer Experience, Insurance (premium, underwriting and/or claims oversight), Health Care, Information Technology, Innovation.
  • Public and Social Policy: Public Value, Risk Management, Strategic Planning, Workplace Health and Safety.
  • People: Labour Relations, Leadership, Workplace wellness (including mental health).

•    Proven ability to lead organizational transformation and change, the ability to create and drive a performance driven culture and the ability to build strong stakeholder relationships.  As one of North America’s largest insurance companies, superior financial leadership is imperative.

Term

There is no limitation in legislation.

Meetings
The board meets at the call of the chair at least four times in each year. The board currently meets four times, with additional meetings being called if required. Meetings are generally held at the board's office. Preparation is required for meetings.
Remuneration

Appointees to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board are remunerated $275 per diem except for the Chair and President, who are remunerated at a rate set by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Appointments & Vacancies

No. Position Member Term Location
1. Chair (Part-Time) GRANT WALSH
03-Feb-2022 - 02-Feb-2025
ottawa
2. Member (Part-Time) PETER GEORGE
03-Feb-2022 - 02-Feb-2025
emeryville
3. Member (Part-Time) SEAN MCFARLING
09-Mar-2023 - 08-Mar-2025
toronto
4. Member (Part-Time) ALANA MCPHEE
20-Jun-2022 - 19-Jun-2025
toronto
5. Member (Part-Time) JAMES HOGARTH
24-Nov-2022 - 23-Nov-2025
sarnia
6. Member (Part-Time) HELEN POLATAJKO
12-Dec-2022 - 11-Dec-2025
toronto
7. Member (Part-Time) REAGAN RUSLIM
15-Dec-2022 - 14-Dec-2025
etobicoke
8. Member (Part-Time) JEFFREY MACOUN
08-Aug-2024 - 07-Aug-2027
london
9. Member (Part-Time) ABDEL-RAHMAN LAWENDY
24-Oct-2024 - 23-Oct-2027
london
10. Member (Part-Time)
11. Member (Part-Time)
12. President (Full-Time) JEFFERY LANG
03-Feb-2022 - 02-Feb-2025
london