Rights Don’t Retire – Lobby Day

On November 25, 2025, your Union participated in the Injured Workers Community Legal Clinic – Lobby Day – “Rights Don’t Retire”. The event was organized by the IWC and ONIWG with presentations, stories from injured workers, and a breakfast reception for MPPs to learn about the campaign.

UFCW Locals 175 & 633 Workers’ Compensation Representatives Sarah Neath, Fatima Butt, Ashley Hunt, Anneela Perumal, along with Debora De Angelis Director of Political Action and Member Engagement went to Queen’s Park to lobby politicians for change to the WSIA that ceases loss of earnings for injured workers at age 65. Workers that are injured at age 63 or older, only receive LOE benefits for two years.   

The reception was followed by a press conference, and MPP Lise Vaugeois was to present the campaign during question period. Roughly 20 MPPs signed on to learn more – including Lise Vaugeois, Wayne Gates, Chris Glover, and Terrence Kernaghan.

In Ontario today, people are working longer than ever before. Many older adults stay in the workforce past age 65 because they need the income or they enjoy their work. The law no longer requires anyone to retire at the age of 65; but the WSIB still acts as if it does. In 2024, more than 421,000 people over the age of 65 were employed, with just under 164,000 of those workers being over the age of 70.

This means that workers injured later in life lose crucial income support simply because of their age.

The Rights Don’t Retire campaign is suggesting an Ontario-made approach and therefore, compensation for LOE should end at the later of:

• Age 70, if the worker was less than 65 years old at the time of injury or recurrence;
• 5 years after the date of injury or recurrence if the worker was 65 years of age or older at the time of injury;
• Another date, if the Board is satisfied that the worker would have retired at a date later than provided for above, but for the injury or recurrence.

Find more posts related to WSIB and Workers’ Compensation.

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