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The NDP is accusing the Ford government of backing down on plans to reclassify wildland forest firefighters in Ontario.
The government announced in February that firefighters would fall under the same category as others regarding workplace hazards and presumptive coverage under the Workers Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).
Opposition MPPs feel it is a measure that can help with recruitment.
They say the Ministry of Natural Resources Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services is operating with 25% fewer staff than it should have during the forest fire season.
“The reclassification of forest firefighters to firefighters is a quick and easy fix. The Minister could make this happen today,” says NDP Labour critic Jamie West.
“The government needs to follow through on the commitments they made to wildland forest firefighters,” states Lise Vaugeois, MPP for Thunder Bay-Superior North.
“Backpedaling on workers’ health and safety and ignoring the service’s inability to retain experienced firefighters creates an unacceptable risk to these workers and all northern communities dependent on the fire service for survival.”
