Farm worker initiates complaint against WSIB

Mar 21, 2016

Complaint states worker couldn’t access the care he needed

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

A discrimination complaint has been launched against WSIB after a Jamaican farm worker was allegedly unable to access the care he needed after suffering an injury working on a London, Ontario farm, according to the Toronto Star.

The complaint was submitted by Robert Sulph and relates to a 2013 incident. Sulph has been a season farm worker in Canada for some 25 years.

The Star reports he was working under the Season Agricultural Workers Program in August. Sulph claims WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) didn’t grant him the access to health care he needed after slicing his neck and his left arm while cutting metal on a tobacco farm near London.

After leaving the hospital, Sulph returned to his yam farm in Jamaica to be with his family when modified duties at his employer’s farm were unavailable.

According to his claim, WSIB didn’t ensure he’d be able to get the care he needed in Jamaica. It says he was forced to pay out of pocket for different expenses including transportation and physiotherapy – costs WSIB said they would reimburse.

His claim says he bought international calling cards to communicate with WSIB but calls went unreturned. The Star reports that if he stayed in Ontario, he would’ve received WSIB benefits, which are billed directly to the board and not the workers.

The Star reports Sulph’s complaint says his treatment made him feel like a lesser member of society and that he’s not alone.

Video: Early Fall Colors | Scenic Ontario Road Trip!

All adventures must come to an end, but not without one more journey! Join The Wandering Shepherds as we say farewell to our cozy Calabogie cottage and take the scenic road trip home to Ewetopia Farms. Our first stop was a breathtaking hydroelectric generating station, framed by cliffs, rushing water, and brilliant fall leaves that seemed to have changed overnight. From there, we meandered along winding backroads through lakes and hills, soaking in the spectacular autumn scenery. This year, the colors seemed to arrive earlier than usual—perhaps due to the summer’s drought? Whatever the reason, it was an unforgettable display of Ontario’s fall beauty. Finally, our holiday drew to a close as we pulled back into Ewetopia Farms, ready to return to the sheep and our daily vlogs. But this trip reminded us how important it is to pause, explore, and appreciate the simple beauty around us.