The following is from the IAFF
The Framework builds on legislation enacted in June 2023 by MP Sherry Romanado and includes five years of funding to support key research and education efforts.
October 7 • 2024
A five-year, $12.29 million investment from the Government of Canada aims to better detect, treat, and prevent fire fighter occupational cancer – the leading cause of line-of-duty death among IAFF members.
General President Edward Kelly and other IAFF leaders joined Health Minister Mark Holland, MPs Sherry Romanado and Yasir Naqvi and national fire service stakeholders for the historic announcement at Fire Station 13 in Ottawa. The investment is part of Canada’s National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting, enacted in June 2023.
The funding supports six pillars:
- Research on Cancer linked to Firefighting: Encourage research, analyze under-studied sub-populations within the fire service, improve the understanding of biological mechanisms of cancer development in fire fighters, align research with the true needs of fire fighters and ensure the translation of knowledge.
- Research on Cancer Prevention & Data Collection: Enhance data collection on fire fighter cancer and health, focusing on existing data gaps.
- Training and Education in Health Care Settings; Develop evidence-based occupational exposure programs, educational materials for healthcare providers serving fire fighters at risk of cancer.
- Diagnostic Testing for Firefighters: Increase awareness of and impacts from occupational cancer in the fire service, support patient-provider interactions, research diagnostic and screening practices, disseminate evidence-based diagnostic guidance on fire fighter cancers and collaborate with cancer agencies and specialists.
- Information & Knowledge Sharing: Facilitate occupational health and safety programs, and develop informational materials broadening best practices for prevention and mitigation strategies.
- Standards on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation: Address identified gaps and share information with provincial stakeholders, share information to support WCB decision-making processes, update presumptive cancers lists and inform WCB policy administrations.
“Every day, fire fighters put their lives at risk to save ours. Their dangerous work comes with an increased risk of cancer, and we need to address that,” Holland said. “That’s why we’re announcing new measures to better prevent, detect and treat cancers linked to firefighting. We all need to work together to ensure those that keep us safe are protected.”
Kelly talked about cancer’s toll on the fire service, and shared the story of Ottawa fire fighter and Local 162 member Ryan Hill, who worked in the firehall where the announcement was made. Hill died at 37 following a yearlong battle with brain cancer.
“Ryan spent 10 years answering these bells for the people of Ottawa and I know that the Framework that is being put in place today will save the lives of future fire fighters who will follow in Ryan’s footsteps,” he said. “Thank you, each and every one of you, for the work you did to make that happen.”
Romanado noted that a month ago, she attended the Canadian Fallen Fire Fighters memorial ceremony in Ottawa, where 160 names were added to the wall, most of them due to occupational cancer.
“Our goal with this Framework is to ensure that fewer and fewer names make it onto that wall every year,” she said. “To those who are currently fighting the good fight, and to their families, please continue to focus on your health and your recovery, and know that we will keep pushing to ensure you have the supports you need.”
Joining Kelly in Ottawa for the announcement were 13th District Vice President Fred LeBlanc, 15th District Vice President and Montreal Local 125 President Chris Ross, and Ottawa Local 162 President David André. Also attending were Assistant to the General President for Canadian Operations Carmen Santoro, Sean McManus, IAFF Canadian Legal Counsel and members of the Local 162 and 125 Executive Boards and Ottawa fire fighters.
Video of the announcement is available online at
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GlwNEbBX9HG0Kwm0xDOEi2TGmMEOs89A/view?usp=sharing
More information about the announcement is available from Health Canada at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2024/10/health-canada-invests-1229-million-in-prevention-and-treatment-of-cancer-for-firefighters.html