Ontario is helping workers who have been injured on the job by increasing their Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) benefits by two-and-a-half per cent as of January 1, 2009.

This increase is in addition to the two-and-a-half per cent increases made on July 1, 2007 and January 1, 2008, respectively. These increases apply to Ontario workers who are permanently, partially disabled.

Before the 2007 Ontario Budget, injured workers saw benefits increase by less than three per cent over the previous 12 years. Cumulatively, as of January 1, 2009, the McGuinty government will have increased benefits by seven-and-a-half per cent over a period of 18 months.