The claim arose out of a dispute as to the appropriate quantum for IRBs. Prior to the accident, the claimant held both a full-time and a part-time employment position. She submitted two OCF-2s. The parties disagreed as to the appropriate calculation for the part-time income. The insurer calculated IRBs using the claimant’s income for the four weeks prior to the accident. The claimant argued that this was inappropriate and that she should be able to designate whichever period (4 weeks or 52 weeks) for the part-time employment that resulted in the higher overall IRB, even if alternative period was used for the full-time employment. Vice-Chair Boyce disagreed with the claimant, noting that there is no mechanism that allows a person to mix-and-match the time period designations. The SABS requires that remuneration be lumped together, regardless of whether it stems from a single employer. Therefore, on a plain reading of the IRB definitions section, all of the claimant’s income should be combined, and then the claimant had the opportunity to select the calculation (4 weeks or 52 weeks) that is most beneficial to her circumstances. A mix-and-match approach would have the effect of creating an arbitrary distinction between individuals who make the same income but have numerous employers. The claimant’s second argument was that the deduction of CPP benefits constituted a repayment under section 52 of the SABS and the insurer failed to provide the proper notice required. Vice-Chair Boyce again disagreed with the claimant’s interpretation, noting that the insurer’s notice was clear that it was only deducting CPP on a go-forward basis. There was no request for repayment of past IRBs, so no notice was required under section 52.
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