Government also announces 'Safe Business Bonus' for employers
Ontario is giving back over $2.5 billion by rebating Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) surpluses to hundreds of thousands of safe employers and reducing business premium rates.
“We’re laser focused on keeping costs down for workers and businesses in Ontario, putting more money back into people’s pockets and helping create better jobs and bigger paycheques,” said Premier Doug Ford. “The rebates and support for safe workplaces being announced today will help keep Ontario’s economy competitive as we continue to compete for and attract game-changing investments.”
Specifically, the government is returning $2 billion in surplus funds to Ontario businesses through the WSIB. 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 $46,000 to reinvest in new jobs, enhanced health and safety programs and bigger paycheques.
Over 280,000 businesses may be eligible for the WSIB surplus rebate, according to the government. Businesses up to date with their premium payment and reporting will be able to request a cheque online to receive payment for any credits on their account. If a business’s mailing address has recently changed, they can update their address online now to ensure the WSIB has the most up to date contact information.
The WSIB’s sector-by-sector business premiums can be found at wsib.ca/2025premiumrates.
Cuts to average premium rates in Ontario
Ontario is also 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. 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, according to the government.
Over the past decade, the WSIB has cut the average premium rate by more than 50 per cent, resulting in cumulative savings for businesses of approximately $18.6 billion since 2017.
"We thank the Ontario government for listening and acting on our WSIB recommendations,” said Julie Kwiecinski, director of Provincial Affairs for Ontario, Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
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“The WSIB is funded by employers, so returning extra money to the eligible business owners who originally paid it and lowering their premiums are the right things to do. Businesses of all sizes will benefit – especially those struggling with high debt and low demand – without risking workplace safety, or the WSIB’s strong financial health. Many businesses have been hit hard over the past year and will welcome the positive news to get their new year off to a great start."
Ontario’s average premium rate businesses pay to the WSIB remained steady at $1.30 per $100 of insurable payroll this year.
Health and safety programs, Certificate of Qualification
The provincial government is also investing $400 million 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 to ensure workers have the care they need, when and where they need it.
Ontario is also 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, according to the government. Since the program's launch in 2019, members have received total rebates of over $68 million, including $15 million in additional incentives for smaller businesses that participated in 2023-2024.
Ontario is among the least dangerous provinces in the country for workers, according to a previous report.
The provincial government is also removing the $150 fee for apprentices taking their first Certificate of Qualification exam. This will make it easier for more people to start their career in the skilled trades, according to the government.
When combined with other fee reductions and removals that the province has implemented since 2019, Ontario is saving each apprentice at least $330, putting almost $3.6 million back into the pockets of nearly 11,000 apprentices.
Nearly 11,000 apprentices take Ontario’s Certificate of Qualification exams each year through Skilled Trades Ontario (STO), for cumulative savings of approximately $1.6 million annually.
"Today’s announcement is an important one for our industry,” said Stephen Chaplin, SVP Health Safety & Environment, EllisDon. “Removing fees for various apprentice programs, and providing more mental health support to workers, these decisions will help sustain and enhance key skilled trade labour to build Canada's most important infrastructure."
Previously, Ontario expanded its Level Up! skilled trades career fairs to more cities this fall, introducing over 35,000 students to exciting, in-demand careers in the trades.