The Ontario government is giving over $2.5 billion back to businesses by rebating Workplace Safety
and Insurance Board (WSIB) surpluses to safe employers, reducing business premium rates and
investing in keeping workers healthy and safety.

Today’s announcement outlined the following measures:

• Returning $2 billion in surplus funds to Ontario businesses through the WSIB thanks to the
  agency’s new approach to financial management. Eligible employers will receive their one-time rebate starting in February 2025 if they are a safe employer, which includes not having
  been convicted more than once under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act
  or Occupational Health and Safety Act since 2020. For a small construction business with
  50 employees, this could mean receiving up to $46,000 from the WSIB
• Cutting the average premium rate for Ontario businesses from $1.30 to $1.25 per $100 of
  insurable payroll through the WSIB starting in 2025, without reducing benefits. This is the
  lowest rate in half a century and will save Ontario businesses about $150 million annually
  starting in 2025 when compared to the 2024 rate.
• Unlocking $400 million to invest in health and safety programs for workers and employers
  developed by the WSIB, focusing on mental health, preventative and chronic injury care and
  recovery to ensure workers have the supports they need to return to work safely and quickly.
  This will include expanding the WSIB’s mental health care programming to partner with 11
  public hospitals and their networks of community-based service providers across Ontario.
• Launching a new Safe Business Bonus with an additional $1,000 bonus to eligible
  employers who create a new workplace health and safety action plan approved through
  the WSIB’s Health and Safety Excellence program, starting in 2025. Over 4,600
  businesses are currently enrolled in the WSIB Health and Safety Excellence program. Since
  the program launched in 2019, members have received total rebates of over $68 million,
  including $15 million in additional incentives for smaller businesses that participated in 2023
  and 2024.

These changes are part of a larger package that will expand on the actions introduced in the five
previous Working for Workers Acts since 2021, which will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

Raven Group will continue to monitor these changes and keep you informed as to timelines for
rebates, rate adjustments, updated safety plans and programs. As always, any questions, please feel
free to call.