WSIB $5.2 Billion Employer Payout
$4B WSIB surplus paid to employers as rebates instead of increasing benefits for injured workers, many of whom live in poverty.
👷 An in effect Labour policy from January 2022 · Implemented · Well sourced
Updated · Created
"Returning Surplus to Businesses"
The WSIB has accumulated a surplus by managing its finances well. Returning excess funds to employers supports job creation and economic growth.
"Ontario is open for business."
— Doug Ford, victory speech, June 7, 2018
"$5.2B to Employers While Injured Workers Suffer"
The WSIB surplus was built by systematically denying claims from injured workers. Rather than improving benefits for workers living in poverty, $5.2 billion was handed to employers through three rounds of premium rebates ($1.2B in 2022, $2B in Feb 2025, $2B in Fall 2025).
- $5.2 billion in employer premium rebates across three rounds (2022, 2025, 2025)source
- WSIB denial rates increased while surplus grewsource
- Average injured worker benefits below poverty linesource
- WSIB admitted deeming policy toward migrant workers was 'not fair and just wrong' (2024)source
This section represents editorial interpretation of documented evidence.
Figures are approximate, using publicly available Ontario cost data.
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