In every community, firefighters are on the front lines each and every day saving lives. These everyday heroes work tirelessly to protect the communities we live in, and in return, they deserve to get the care and support they need.
Firefighters die of cancer at a rate up to four times higher than the general population. On average, 50 to 60 firefighters die of cancer yearly in Canada, and half of those are from Ontario.
That is why, our government is making it faster and easier for these heroes and their families to access the compensation and support they deserve.
Proposed changes by the government would presume thyroid and pancreatic cancers to be work-related and streamline the assessment of workplace injury claims.
Claims related to thyroid and pancreatic cancers would be retroactive to January 1, 1960.
The changes would apply to full-time, volunteer and part-time firefighters, firefighters employed by First Nations band councils and fire investigators.
These regulatory amendments are part of a comprehensive whole-of-government strategy that expands on the ground-breaking actions in the Working for Workers Acts, 2021 and 2022, that are already helping millions of people.
News Release:
EN: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1002778/ontario-expanding-cancer-coverage-for-firefighters
FR: https://news.ontario.ca/fr/release/1002778/lontario-etend-la-couverture-pour-le-cancer-aux-pompiers