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December 9, 1996
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)


Personal Liability Protection for Provincial Firefighters

The Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs has introduced legislation to the House of Assembly that, if passed, would provide the province's 6,500 paid and volunteer firefighters with protection from personal liability.

The minister, Art Reid, who has responsibility for fire protection, says it is a most significant piece of legislation.

"It means that individual firefighters would not be held liable for damages when acting in good faith in the execution of their duties," Mr. Reid said.

Mr. Reid said the legislation also provides that firefighters would be indemnified for reasonable legal costs in the defence of a civil action if the firefighter is found not to be liable and, in the defence of a criminal prosecution if the firefighter is found not guilty. Any such legal costs would be borne by the respective municipality or the local service district committee.

"Basically, what it means is that while people would still have the right to sue, the firefighter, acting in good faith would not be liable for legal costs incurred and they would be borne by the municipality and/or the local service district," said the minister.

Amendments are also being made to other municipal legislation to authorize municipal and local service district firefighters to respond to other than fire-related emergencies including medical emergencies.

Mr. Reid said firefighters who will be authorized to respond to medical emergencies must be trained in standard first aid and basic life support and must obtain a basic first responder level certificate within a period of 24 months.

"Newfoundland and Labrador is fortunate to have so many professionally trained firefighters and it is simply not possible to place a dollar value on the service they are providing to communities throughout the province," said Mr. Reid. "Additionally, our well- equipped fire departments are comparable to those which can be found anywhere."

In addition to the Firefighter Protection Act, Mr. Reid said the department is hopeful of getting eight other significant pieces of legislation through the current session of the House of Assembly.

Contact: Gary Callahan, (709) 729-3142.

1996 12 09 11:05 a.m

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