Wildland firefighters say legislation allowing for presumptive WSIB coverage for cancer may leave many ineligible.
Firefighters must work for 15 years to qualify.
Vice-president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, Noah Freedman, says the legislation treats a single six-month fire season as half a year.
“Therefore, in order to qualify for cancer coverage, which requires 15 years of service, a wildland firefighter would have to work for 30 fire seasons,” says Freedman.
Freedman says the issue was raised before a government committee reviewing the legislation.
He says Progressive Conservative members assured that the WSIB will recognize each fire season as a year of service but voted against the NDP’s amendment to include this wording in the legislation.
Mark Belanger, a local union president, calls the move insulting.
“Minister Piccini and his government must amend this legislation to fully support Ontario’s wildland firefighters,” says Belanger.
“We need to know the government has our back even when we’re long gone because we have the backs of the people of this province. Wildland firefighters should not be treated like second-class first responders. We breathe carcinogens. We protect communities, and we ask little in return. Return the gesture and recognize our sacrifice.”
Patrice Barnes, the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, told the provincial legislature that the committee recognized a fire season as a year and would work with the WSIB to clarify the issue.
