Ontario Liberal Party Interim Leader John Fraser is criticizing the loss of hundreds of Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) jobs in Northern Ontario and is calling on the provincial government to keep those jobs in the region.According to the union representing WSIB workers, 15 employees in North Bay have been laid off. These cuts are part of the closure of 10 WSIB offices across Ontario, resulting in 466 job losses. Northern Ontario has been particularly affected, with 250 jobs eliminated.
Offices in North Bay, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, and Timmins are being closed, with remaining positions being moved to southern Ontario.Fraser argues that the job losses are especially damaging to Northern Ontario, where communities are already dealing with tariffs, plant closures, layoffs, and high unemployment. He says WSIB positions provide stable employment that supports families, local businesses, and regional economies.He also argues that Northern Ontario has unique needs that require employees who understand the region.
Workers may live hundreds of kilometres from services, healthcare can be more difficult to access, and industries such as mining and forestry have specific workplace challenges. Fraser believes WSIB employees based in the North are better equipped to understand these circumstances.Harry Goslin, president of the Ontario Compensation Employees Union, agrees that closing local offices could make it harder for injured workers to receive proper support. He says workers will increasingly have to rely on call centres, where they may have difficulty speaking with a live representative.
Even when they do reach someone, that person may not understand the local community or the challenges of travelling Northern Ontario roads, particularly during the winter.Goslin believes the loss of experienced local staff could result in a reduction in services. Fraser similarly warns that the cuts could create more pressure on WSIB, leading to delays and making it harder for injured workers to receive income support, treatment, and assistance returning to work.Fraser is calling on Premier Doug Ford to reverse the cuts and keep WSIB jobs in Northern Ontario. He argues that the province should be working to preserve good jobs in the region rather than removing them.
