Respectfully reviewed

A Métis man sought our help after he was cut off from Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) assistance two weeks after getting approved for it, because his employer offered him the opportunity to take on lighter work. He told us that he felt that his Métis status was being ignored by WSIB officials, and he felt disrespected when his concerns were met with a service restriction that limited him to written correspondence only. He told us he escalated his concerns to the Fair Practices Commission (FPC) but never heard back.

Result: We contacted the FPC and confirmed that it had reached out to the man and had made inquiries with the WSIB. Shortly thereafter, the WSIB reinstated his benefits, approved one month’s pay to recoup the loss of earnings, authorized physiotherapy and a knee brace, and reassigned his case to the Complex Injury Adjudication Unit. The man confirmed he had started physiotherapy and gotten a knee brace, thanked us for our help and told us he felt he was now being treated with more respect.