OGCA Welcomes New WSIB Chair and President

Long-time Chair Elizabeth Witmer has retired from the WSIB after ten years as Chair and 36 years in public service.

The Ontario Government has nominated Grant Walsh as Chair and Jeffery Lang as President and CEO. They are both current members of the WSIB Board of Directors, and we welcome them as they take on these important responsibilities to lead the WSIB forward.

Elizabeth Witmer is a former Minister of Labour, Education and Health and served as Deputy Premier over her 22 years as a Member of Provincial Parliament for Kitchener-Waterloo.

In 2019, OGCA presented Elizabeth Witmer with our Doug Chalmers Award for leadership in health and safety. As Minister of Labour, she led the reform to establish the WSIB and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997. Then as Chair, she championed health and safety, including Safety Groups and Health and Safety Excellence Programs. Most significantly, she eliminated a $14 billion unfunded liability in 2019, many years ahead of the target. As a result, premiums rates were reduced, more than 50% for most construction firms.

OGCA will be reaching out and thanking Elizabeth Witmer for her service and many achievements.

You can find a full copy of the release, outlining the changes to WSIB leadership and the contributions of Elizabeth Witmer by clicking here.