April 16, 2008

JANIS REES/KALEIDOSCOPE PHOTOGRAPHY

WSIB Chair Steve Mahoney looks over the proposed agenda for discussion at Friday’s OGCA Symposium bear-pit session. Mahoney tried to defuse tension surrounding the employer rebate program.

Mahoney attempts to defuse furor over WSIB rebate

Board chairman says ‘theatrics’ prevented debate

VINCE VERSACE

staff writer

Collingwood

The recent public furor over Workplace Safety and Insurance Board rebates paid to companies that have experienced workplace fatalities went beyond a rational discussion, says the board’s chairman.

“It has been theatrics more than anything else and it was politics,” Steve Mahoney said during a “bear pit” session at the recent Ontario General Contractors Association symposium.

The WSIB recently found itself under heavy criticism after a media investigation revealed it issued rebates to companies that were prosecuted and found guilty of safety violations leading to deaths and serious injuries. Critics called for Mahoney’s resignation and Premier Dalton McGuinty was drawn into the fray and admitted changes needed to be made.

“Rest assured, I did not generate the media [attention] from this last week,” added Mahoney.

The Ontario Business Coalition [OBC], which includes the Council of Ontario Construction Associations [COCA] as a member, issued a letter last week condemning the WSIB for “unilateral announcements” concerning the experience-rating system. “OBC members view the making of policy by press release and the media as a grotesque denial of democratic process,” stated David Surplis, chair of the OBC and acting president at COCA.

Mahoney acknowledged during the bear-pit session that debate over the future of experience rating and rebates had spilled too far into the public eye. However, he said he needed to respond because it was his responsibility as chair of the WSIB to provide clear information on the program as the media debate skewed facts.

“Politics and publicity should not enter into the debate,” said Mahoney.

“You cannot debate when you are standing in a wind tunnel with people screaming at you.”

The WSIB announced in March it would conduct a review of its experience-rating program which would take a year to complete.

The WSIB announced in March it would conduct a review of its experience rating program which would take a year to complete. Mahoney said addressing inequities in the rebate program was goal he set when he took the reins of the WSIB.

“It is unacceptable to me that a company responsible for a fatality would still get a rebate cheque from the WSIB,” said Mahoney when the review was announced.

Mahoney disputed reported claims that he was going to call for the elimination of the experience rating program.

“We are reviewing it and going to make it better,” said Mahoney. “If we can find a way to improve it, we will.”

The rebates issued are generated through a “cost-based system” which Mahoney said he personally does not think is right.

“Sadly, the truth is, a fatality could be cheaper than injury especially if there are no dependents or family,” said Mahoney.

“We want to do more and be a partner [with employers] to work with this, it is too important. Health and safety belongs on the asset side of the ledger sheet.”

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