HOW IT WORKS
Industry Polling (Voting)
- Majority Required: More than 50.01% of assessable earnings must vote in favour for the industry to continue participating in ICP.
- Who Votes: Every employer in the industry who pays WCB premiums will receive a ballot. Voting power is based on assessable earnings (total payroll).
- No/Abstain: Any vote that is "No" or not submitted is treated as support for returning to Standard Pricing.
A Yes vote means you support your industry continuing to participate in the ICP option being voted on. If employers representing greater than 50% of the industry's assessable earnings vote in favour, the industry will continue participating in the ICP option beginning in the 2027 premium rate year.
A No vote means you support your industry returning to Standard Pricing. If employers representing 50% or less of the industry's assessable earnings vote in favour of continuing participation in the ICP option being voted on, the industry will return to Standard Pricing beginning in the 2027 premium rate year.
Important: If you do not submit a vote, this will be considered a vote to return to Standard Pricing.
Outcomes of the Vote
- If the Vote Passes: If employers representing greater than 50% of the industry's total assessable earnings vote in favour of remaining in ICP, all employers in the industry will continue participating in the current ICP option(s) beginning in the 2027 premium rate year.
- If the Vote Fails: If employers representing 50% or less of the industry's total assessable earnings vote in favour of remaining in ICP, the industry will return to Standard Pricing beginning in the 2027 premium rate year.
Returning to Standard Pricing means the cost relief levy will once again be included in premium rates. In return, municipalities will regain access to cost relief related to prolonged recovery resulting from the aggravation of a pre-existing condition.
Timeline
| When | What Happens |
| Now | WCB sends ballots to municipal employers. |
| Voting period | Employers submit their ballots. |
| Shortly after voting closes | WCB counts votes based on assessable earnings. |
| If employers representing greater than 50% of assessable earnings vote in favour | The industry continues participating in the ICP Waiving of Cost Relief (CR) option beginning in the 2027 premium rate year. |
| If employers representing 50% or less of assessable earnings vote in favour | The industry returns to Standard Pricing beginning in the 2027 premium rate year. |
| Five years later | The industry will return to Standard Pricing. |
What to Expect if Your Industry Remains in ICP
- Premium Rates: If the industry remains in ICP, the cost relief levy will continue to be removed from the industry rate. This helps keep upfront premium rates lower for all employers in the industry.
- Cost Relief: Employers will continue to waive eligibility for cost relief related to prolonged recovery resulting from the aggravation of a pre-existing condition. All other forms of cost relief, cost transfers, and maximum per-claim cost protections remain available.
- Re-polling: Industries participating in ICP are automatically re-polled every five years to confirm whether they wish to continue participating. An early re-poll may occur after the third or fourth year if there is sufficient evidence that the industry wishes to change its ICP participation.