Ontario

Workers who worked with asbestos in Ontario are entitled to apply for Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Benefits or choose to seek compensation elsewhere. If you apply for benefits from WSIB you may not seek compensation from any other source as your rights to take action against any negligent party are assigned to WSIB. An excerpt of the legislation that covers this issue is here:

Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 S.O. 1997, Chapter 16

Benefits in lieu of rights of action
(2) Entitlement to benefits under the insurance plan is in lieu of all rights of action (statutory or otherwise) that a worker, a worker’s survivor or a worker’s spouse, child or dependant has or may have against the worker’s employer or an executive officer of the employer for or by reason of an accident happening to the worker or an occupational disease contracted by the worker while in the employment of the employer. 1997, c. 16, Sched. A, s. 26 (2); 1999, c. 6, s. 67 (6); 2005, c. 5, s. 73 (6).

Election, concurrent entitlements
30. (1) This section applies when a worker or a survivor of a deceased worker is entitled to benefits under the insurance plan with respect to an injury or disease and is also entitled to commence an action against a person in respect of the injury or disease. 1997, c. 16, Sched. A, s. 30 (1).

Election
(2) The worker or survivor shall elect whether to claim the benefits or to commence the action and shall notify the Board of the option elected. 1997, c. 16, Sched. A, s. 30 (2).

Subrogation, Schedule 1 employer
(10) If the worker or survivor elects to claim benefits under the insurance plan and if the worker is employed by a Schedule 1 employer or the deceased worker was so employed, the Board is subrogated to the rights of the worker or survivor in respect of the action. The Board is solely entitled to determine whether or not to commence, continue or abandon the action and whether to settle it and on what terms. 1997, c. 16, Sched. A, s. 30 (10).

Same, Schedule 2 employer
(11) If the worker or survivor elects to claim benefits under the insurance plan and if the worker is employed by a Schedule 2 employer or the deceased worker was so employed, the employer is subrogated to the rights of the worker or survivor in respect of the action. The employer is solely entitled to determine whether or not to commence, continue or abandon the action and whether to settle it and on what terms. 1997, c. 16, Sched. A, s. 30 (11).

Surplus
(12) If the Board or the employer pursues the action and receives an amount of money greater than the amount expended in pursuing the action and providing the benefits under the insurance plan to the worker or the survivor, the Board or the employer (as the case may be) shall pay the surplus to the worker or survivor. 1997, c. 16, Sched. A, s. 30 (12).