March 28, 2000
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)

Minister responds to Fire Chiefs Association

Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, today responded to a news release distributed by the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Fire Chiefs and Firefighters. The minister said the information offered in the release suggested a decrease in the budget for the Fire Commissioner�s Office and that was inaccurate. The minister said the budget had not been reduced this year but in fact, it had been increased from $713,100 to $784,400.

"I was disappointed that the association, without verifying facts with my department, elected to draw their own conclusions on the budget, particularly in light of a joint committee which has recently been established to improve communications and focus on training issues and other priority concerns," said the minster. "If the president of the association wanted clarification of budget details we would have been happy to provide him with that information."

The minister said the Fire Commissioner�s Office received funding this year to increase staffing by filling a training/inspections position and that salaries have increased through reclassification. She also explained that capital funding has been provided over the last two years to purchase trucks and other equipment. "In the last two year through our capital funding alone the department provided $2 million through a cost sharing arrangement with the municipalities which meant $4 million was spent to purchase new fire trucks for 24 different communities," said the minister. In addition, over the last three years we have provided almost $1.5 million for pumps, hoses, breathing apparatus and other equipment."

The minister said last year the actual expenditures for the Fire Commissioner�s Office were $824,000 due to costs associated with the investigation of a 1998 accident at Come By Chance and forest fires at Badger and Charlottetown. She added that government has always responded to emergencies and would continue to provide funding above the budgeted amounts in the event of future emergencies.

On average the department spends $1.5 million annually for fire trucks and other equipment which doubles the amount provided prior to the mid 1990's under a separate Fire Protection Assistance Program budget. Government also supports firefighters through the payment of insurance premiums and Workers Compensation premiums and an annual grant of $22,000 to the Firefighter�s Association.

The minister said she valued the work of professional and volunteer fire fighters throughout the province and welcomed the opportunity to meet with the association. A meeting has been scheduled with the association for March 29, 2000 to discuss this issue as well as others.

Media contact: Glenn Bruce, Communications, (709) 729-1983.

2000 03 28                                                                 3:05 p.m.