Understanding the assessment

A Francophone man required services from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) after he was injured at work. He needed a full medical examination (physical and psychological). The WSIB referred him to an English-only medical clinic and said he could use interpreters for his examination. He refused to go because he thought this would put him in an uncomfortable position and that going through a psychological examination using interpreters would overcomplicate things. He submitted a request to the WSIB for referral to a Francophone medical clinic and was denied.

RESULT: Our Office raised this issue with the WSIB, which reviewed the case and the Francophone man’s request. The WSIB updated its procedures for members of the public who identify as Francophones, and the man was able to get his full medical examination in French. He told us that he was delighted and relieved that the situation had been resolved.

He thanked us and expressed his appreciation that the Ombudsman’s Office exists. He said (in French) that he was “so grateful, as I was tired of standing up for myself and what you did with the WSIB helped give me a second wind.”

Learn more about the French Language Services Unit which answers questions and takes complaints about services in French.
Read about how we helped other people in our Selected cases.