Ontario Strengthening Protections for Firefighters

Province expanding coverage for occupational cancer, heart injuries, and PTSD to help safeguard the health and safety of frontline heroes

BRANTFORD – The Ontario government will soon introduce legislation that, if passed, will ensure wildland firefighters and investigators have the same presumptive WSIB coverage for cancers, heart injuries, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that municipal firefighters do. The province is also proposing to expand presumptive coverage to firefighters and fire investigators for skin cancer and lower the service time required for firefighters to receive compensation from 15 to 10 years, bringing Ontario to the lowest required duration of service in the country. With presumptive coverage, certain cancers, heart injuries, and PTSD diagnoses are presumed to be work-related, helping ensure quicker and easier access to WSIB benefits “In every corner of our province, firefighters, fire investigators, and volunteers put their lives on the line to keep our families and communities safe. These frontline heroes deserve a government that values their service and sacrifice – they have earned stronger, more expansive coverage,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development during an announcement in Brantford onApril 29th.

Garden hosts fine-tuning lastminute details ahead of Annual Garden Tour June 1-2

“Our government is serving those who serve by expanding cancer coverage and ensuring wildland firefighters have the same health coverages that municipal firefighters do. This builds on the progress we’ve made in our previous Working for Workers legislation, and we will continue to work with the firefighting community as part of our long-term plan to safeguard the health and safety of our frontline heroes ” The government is proposing changes to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA), which would reduce the duration of employment requirement for entitlement to presumptive coverage for primary-site skin cancer from 15 years to 10, making it faster and easier for firefighters to access benefits Growing scientific evidence shows that firefighters, including wildland firefighters, are at an increased risk of developing skin cancer because of their exposure to carcinogens and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in fireground dust

The Paris Horticultural Society will be holding their annual garden tour June 1st & 2nd this year Anne Vernon and 2 of her committee members delivered a thank you boutonnieres, their tour tickets and an information sheet to the garden hosts. We found some of them at work in their gardens preparing for the tour visitors. The gardens are once again varied in size and style, making for an interesting tour. Artist and musicians will be at most of the gardens throughout the weekend. Tickets, $15 each, are available at Walter’s Greenhouse, Sobeys and Home Hardware (now south end off Rest Acres). Photos & Content Submitted by Margaret Collins