Councillor David Turton said the presumptive legislation covering firefighters is a good step in recognizing the efforts of local volunteers.
On Nov. 5, the province announced it is moving to pass a regulation to extend presumptive provisions to volunteers and part-time firefighters, plus fire investigators for specific health conditions attributed to firefighting.
Previously those presumptions only applied to full-time firefighters in Ontario.
Turton considers the announcement a good move.
“Our local volunteer fire service folks will certainly be happy to see that starting to come forward.”
In May 2007, the Workplace and Safety and Insurance Act was changed to provide full-time municipal fire service employees compensation for certain cancer types, or heart damage suffered within 24 hours of responding to an emergency that is presumed to be the result of employment in a fire service.
