Good morning. This is the Wednesday Sept. 13 edition of First Up, the Star鈥檚 daily morning digest. Sign up to get it earlier each day, in your inbox.
Here鈥檚 the latest on WSIB accidentally shortchanging workers for 20 years, rent control in Ontario and the province missing out on opportunities to save taxpayers millions.
DON鈥橳 MISS
WSIB will pay out $42 million after shortchanging 100,000 injured workers
Ontario鈥檚 Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) accidentally shortchanged more than 100,000 injured workers to the tune of $42 million, after a coding error went unnoticed for two decades. The board has now sent letters to affected workers, promising they鈥檒l get their missing funds within six weeks once they sign into a WSIB portal and confirm their identity. 鈥淲e screwed up,鈥 WSIB president and CEO Jeff Lang said in an exclusive interview with the Star, adding that workers 鈥渉ave a right to be frustrated.鈥 While most payments will be under $70 (plus interest), some range up to $40,000. Here鈥檚 what鈥檚 behind the error and how you can get your money.
- Wait, what? According to Lang, the glitch began in 1998 after legislative changes to the way cost-of-living adjustments were calculated: 鈥淚t was human error,鈥 he said. Another change in 2018 meant the code was rewritten, fixing the mistake 鈥 but it wasn鈥檛 noticed until 2019.
Their 海角社区官网landlord raised rent by $7,000 鈥 now they鈥檙e fighting for 鈥渞eal rent control鈥 in Ontario
When 海角社区官网sisters Yumna and Khadeja Farooq learned their rent would be skyrocketing from $2,500 to $9,500 per month, it felt like the rug had been pulled out from under them. The dramatic jump was introduced after the siblings voiced their concerns about a host of issues to their landlord, including 鈥渕alfunctioning items鈥 they鈥檇 paid to repair 鈥 but which they alleged were their landlord鈥檚 responsibility. Now the sisters are collaborating with NDP MPP Jill Andrew to push for 鈥渞eal rent control鈥 across Ontario. First Up鈥檚 Manuela Vega explains the loopholes perforating rent control in the province and what needs to change.
Ontario鈥檚 missing out on an opportunity to save taxpayers millions
A new report from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to be released Wednesday found the province鈥檚 $30 billion procurement process could be costing millions more than necessary due to the prioritization of short-term savings over long-term value. For example, buying cheaper laptops might save money in the short-run, but the goods may need to be replaced sooner, leading to greater long-term costs. Similarly, buying some supplies in bulk 鈥 like pharmaceuticals 鈥 may be cheaper, but could lead to future shortages, the report鈥檚 author said. By streamlining the process and putting more emphasis on quality, Ontario鈥檚 procurement process could save money long-term and support the province鈥檚 local businesses.
- Now what? A spokesperson for Ontario鈥檚 Treasury Board Secretariat told the Star they will review the report. Supply Ontario, which is in charge of improving and updating procurement, said they鈥檙e reviewing the findings as well.
WHAT ELSE
Money wasn鈥檛 everything in the June 26 election in which the second place finisher outspent the winner.
海角社区官网StarPOV
CLOSE-UP
American researcher Mark Dickey, center, talks to journalists after being pulled out of Morca cave near Anamur, south Turkey, on Tuesday.
Mert Gokhan Koc / APTURKEY: American researcher and caver Mark Dickey talks to journalists after being pulled from Morca Cave on Tuesday 鈥 .
Before I go, Monday鈥檚 edition of First Up erroneously said the trial of accused terrorist Nathaniel Veltman was taking place in London, when it is in fact being held in a Windsor courthouse. Sorry for any confusion.
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