Province Introduces Legislation to Extend Workplace Insurance Protections Across Residential Care Sector
The Ontario government has introduced proposed legislation that would expand mandatory Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) coverage to an estimated 29,000 additional frontline care workers employed in privately operated residential care facilities, retirement homes and group homes, in a move aimed at closing long-standing protection gaps across the sector.
If passed, the legislation would require all privately operated residential care facilities in the province to provide WSIB coverage for eligible workers, aligning them with publicly operated facilities where similar protections are already mandatory.
The government said the proposed expansion is part of its broader strategy to strengthen workplace protections while improving consistency across Ontario’s care sector.
“Every day, frontline care workers show up to support people who rely on them,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “They do this work with compassion and dedication, and they deserve to know they’ll be protected if something goes wrong. By extending WSIB coverage across the sector, we’re closing long-standing gaps and making sure no worker caring for others in these facilities is left without support when they need it most.”
Policy Aims to Standardize Protections Across Public and Private Operators
Under the proposed changes, workers in privately run residential care settings would receive the same WSIB protections as employees performing equivalent roles in publicly operated facilities.
The province said the change is intended to create a more level competitive environment for operators while ensuring workers have consistent access to benefits regardless of employer type.
Eligible workers could include personal support workers, registered nurses, social workers, occupational therapists and operations staff, subject to final regulatory definitions following consultations.
Ontario officials said the expansion would improve workplace safety outcomes and address disparities that have persisted for years within the residential care sector.
According to the province, approximately 165,000 workers were employed in Ontario’s nursing and residential care facilities sector in 2025.
WSIB Coverage Seen as Key Support for Injured Workers
The WSIB provides wage-loss benefits, medical coverage and return-to-work support for employees injured or made ill on the job. The agency currently covers more than five million workers at over 300,000 workplaces across Ontario.
“The team at the WSIB is delivering world class results to help people recover and safely return to work,” said Jeff Lang, President and CEO, WSIB. “We hope people never need us, but if they do, we’re here to help.”
The WSIB is funded through employer-paid premiums and operates as a no-fault workplace insurance system.
Ontario noted that more than 75 per cent of employers across most sectors in the province are already subject to mandatory WSIB coverage requirements.
Labour Groups and Sector Leaders Welcome Expansion
The announcement drew support from labour organizations and advocacy groups, many of which have long called for expanded coverage in residential and community care settings.
“A decades-long fight to bring security and fairness to care workers has been won,” said Tyler Downey, President, SEIU Healthcare Canada. “For workers in group homes and retirement homes, expanding WSIB coverage to their workplaces is more than a policy change. This is recognition of the dignity of care work, the value of those who do it, and the responsibility we all share to stand behind the people who spend their lives caring for others.”
Laura Walton, President of the Ontario Federation of Labour, said the move represents progress for workers in sectors historically dominated by women and equity-deserving groups.
“The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) applauds Minister Piccini’s decision to expand access to WSIB coverage to workers employed in residential care and group homes in Ontario, the majority of whom are women and from equity deserving communities,” Walton said.
Industry leaders also welcomed the announcement, while noting implementation details will be important.
“We welcome this step toward strengthening protections for frontline staff across residential and community-based care,” said Omar Mahamed, Executive Director, Choices. “Ensuring that workers are supported when they experience workplace injury is critical to maintaining a stable, high-quality system of care.”
Broader Worker Protection Measures Expected
The WSIB expansion forms part of a wider package of labour-related measures the Ontario government says it will unveil in the coming days as part of its economic and workforce strategy.
Andrea Khanjin, Minister of Red Tape Reduction, said the initiative reflects the government’s approach to balancing worker protections with regulatory reform.
“Protecting workers and cutting red tape go hand in hand. By modernizing outdated rules and extending WSIB coverage across the residential care sector, we’re giving workers the protection they deserve while providing clarity and consistency for employers. This is smart, responsible regulation that strengthens Ontario’s workforce.”
The government has positioned the legislation as part of its broader effort to make Ontario more competitive for business investment while reinforcing labour standards across critical sectors.
If enacted, the legislation would mark one of the most significant expansions of workplace insurance coverage for Ontario care workers in recent years, extending protections to thousands of employees who have historically lacked access to the province’s workplace compensation system.