OAFC applauds Ontario Government’s announcement on protections for firefighters

Apr. 30, 2024, Ajax, Ont. – The following is a recent statement from the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs following the Ontario Government’s announcement that it will soon introduce legislation that, if passed, that will ensure wildland firefighters and investigators have the same presumptive WSIB coverage for cancers, heart injuries, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that municipal firefighters do.

“Today, the Ontario government announced it will soon be introducing legislation to expand presumptive coverage to firefighters and fire investigators for skin cancer and lower the service time required for firefighters to receive coverage from 15 to 10 years. Additionally, it was announced that firefighter coverage for cancer, heart injury, and PTSD will be extended to wildland firefighters.

“The Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC) applauds this announcement as one more step towards reducing firefighter cancer.”