In addition to the WSIB surplus rebate announced in our Late Breaking Payroll News on December 6, 2024, and April 7, 2025, the Ontario government distributed an additional $2 billion rebate to businesses (third rebate in the WSIB’s history) as of October 31, 2025.
Effective January 1, 2026, the average premium rate will be reduced for the seventh time in ten years. The average rate is now less than half of its 2016 level and is the lowest it has been in over 50 years.
To qualify for the WSIB surplus rebate that started in October 2025, businesses must meet all of the following conditions:
- Maintain an active account with premium payment obligations as of May 1, 2025, and have had premium obligations in 2024.
- Clean compliance record
- No convictions under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act or the Occupational Health and Safety Act in 2024 or in 2025 up to the date the rebate is issued.
- No more than one conviction under either Act between 2020 and 2025 up to the date the rebate is issued.
- No recent traumatic fatalities
- No traumatic workplace fatalities in 2024 or 2025 up to the rebate date.
- No more than one traumatic fatality between 2020 and 2025.
- No ineligible affiliations
- Must not be affiliated through common ownership with any business that is disqualified due to convictions or has had a traumatic workplace fatality between 2020 and 2025.