Service NL
December 12, 2016
The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Eddie Joyce, Minister Responsible for WorkplaceNL:
Provincial Government Honours Commitment to Firefighters
Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House to note that today, our government will honour a commitment we made to firefighters. This afternoon we will introduce amendments to the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act to provide firefighters with presumptive cancer coverage.
Firefighters are exposed to significant risks whenever they answer the call to protect our families and communities by fighting house and industrial fires.
Mr. Speaker there is growing evidence that this also includes an increased risk of developing many different types of cancer.
Firefighters in Newfoundland and Labrador have been asking for presumptive cancer coverage for more than a decade, and we are pleased to respond by implementing this legislation not just for career firefighters but for volunteers as well.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulated Fire Chief Cecil Kerr of Gillams in a previous statement for being named the Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year by the Association of Canadian Fire Chiefs.
He is a great example of how volunteer firefighters throughout the province set a high standard of community service. It is only fair that those volunteers should be afforded consideration in terms of this important benefit, and we were pleased to include them.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to debating the amendment we will bring forward later this afternoon, and ask all Honourable Members to support it.
Thank you.
Provincial Government Introduces Presumptive Cancer Coverage for Firefighters2016 12 12 1:55 p.m.