Bill 105: WSIB “Lock-In” Removal (Ontario), 2026

📋 What This Guide Covers

Bill 105 (Ontario) proposes to remove the 72-month “lock-in” period under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA). The lock-in currently caps how long WSIB can review and suspend or reduce benefits after a claim is approved.

Status: 🔴 Active political moment — currently before the Ontario Legislature. Track @NAFTELWORLD, @samoosterhoff and injured-worker advocates for updates.

Why it matters for injured workers:

  • Removes the statutory deadline that protects workers from decades-later benefit suspension
  • After the lock-in expires, WSIB could revisit and cut benefits years or decades after the injury
  • Advocates warn this undermines long-term financial security for permanently injured workers

🎯 The Core Issue: “Lock-In” Explained

Term Meaning Impact if Removed
Lock-in period (72 months) Window during which WSIB may review/suspend benefits post-approval Currently a hard protective deadline
Post-lock-in review After 72 months, reviews are sharply limited Bill 105 would allow review/suspension indefinitely
Permanently injured workers Those with life-long WSIB entitlements Most exposed to retroactive suspension

📊 Evidence Base (from 3mpwrApp CanLII Research)

Our analysis of 98,992 WSIAT decisions (2020–2026) shows the systemic patterns Bill 105 interacts with:

  • Termination after claim filing: 71+ WSIAT cases flagged (conservative keyword minimum)
  • Benefit reductions decades later: multiple redetermination rulings show WSIB revisiting long-closed files
  • Precedent: Ontario Court of Appeal has ruled WSIB cannot criminalize a worker’s recovery from injury — a key check on overreach

The removal of the lock-in removes one of the few remaining time-based shields for injured workers.

✊ Advocacy Paths Forward

  • Contact your MPP — oppose removal of the 72-month protection
  • Share worker testimony — anonymous wins feed the 3mpwrApp Evidence Flywheel
  • Follow the action alert — link surfaced via @NAFTELWORLD / injured-worker orgs
  • Log your experience in 3mpwrApp — collective evidence (≥50 workers) triggers campaign suggestions

🔗 Related

Last updated: 2026-09-12 — monitored by Athena Research (S0vryn9).