The women and men working in construction and industrial workplaces dedicate their lives to building this province's infrastructure and economy. Ontario workers who have lost their hearing in the performance of their occupation have the right to have their hearing restored by professionals who know best what hearing devices will enhance their hearing capabilities. They have the right to be fitted with hearing aids that are right for them, by professionals trained to fit them. 

Over the past 8 years, the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has steadily cut back benefits for injured workers suffering from noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). Over this time, we have seen a 475% reduction in the price that they will pay for hearing aids.

Perhaps the most impactful change took place on January 9, 2017. WSIB reduced the amount that they will pay for a hearing aid in half while limiting the number of manufacturer's hearing aids that we can fit from 10 down to only 3. With this reduction in price also comes a reduction in the performance level of devices offered. Where workers used to receive top of the line hearing aids, many will now be fit with basic performance level products. Hundreds of products that workers have come to depend on are no longer available to them.

This change not only negatively impacts injured workers, but also the hearing healthcare professionals that administer this program. With responsibility and accountability under the Regulated Health Processions Act and their associations, WSIB's new policy with its reduction to only 3 manufacturers places professionals in compromising positions with their regulatory bodies, and reduces the choice and variety of available options to the workers. Yielding this power to administrators in an agency of the government, puts key health care decisions in the hands of those who lack the appropriate knowledge and expertise to make these decisions.

We believe that WSIB's NIHL program needs to be reviewed to re-establish that fairness for workers is the priority. Please sign this petition to show your support and join our fight for fairness for our workers. #fair4workers