A Review of the Demers Report on Using Scientific Evidence and Principles to Help Determine the Work-relatedness of Cancer

  • February 14, 2022
  • Alec Farquhar

In January 2020, Paul Demers issued his ground-breaking report entitled Using Scientific Evidence and Principles to Help Determine the Work-Relatedness of Cancer (the “Demers Report” - https://www.occupationalcancer.ca/2020/scientific-evidence-work-relatedness-cancer-report/ ).  The report was commissioned by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (the Ministry). 

In recent years, there has been increasing media and public policy attention to workers’ compensation for occupational disease, including the formation of the Occupational Disease Reform Alliance, the WSIB consultation on an occupational disease policy framework and the recent addition to Schedule 3 of Parkinson’s Disease from McIntyre Powder exposure.  So it’s a good time to review the Demers Report and see what it has to offer as employers, workers, government and the WSIB grapple with these complex issues.