Injured workers said the move is unfair and that the WSIB’s surplus is money rightfully owed to them — not their bosses.

The provincial government announced the WSIB rebate in late November. It is a repeat of a policy Ontario Premier Doug Ford rolled out prior to the last provincial election in 2022. Ford is widely expected to call an early election next year.

The report argued the agency has used practices such as “deeming” to reduce the amount owed to injured workers. Through this practice, a construction worker hurt while earning $25 per hour could be “deemed” fit by the WSIB to work a lower-paid job, like grocery store clerk. This practice reduces the level of income support the WSIB provides to an injured worker, even if the worker has been unsuccessful landing a clerk job after hundreds of applications, the report said.

A construction business with 50 employees could receive as much as $46,000 as a result of the rebate, according to a provincial press release.