Ontario expands cancer coverage for firefighters

The Ford government plans to expand cancer coverage for firefighters to those diagnosed with thyroid and pancreatic cancers, which would allow them to access compensation and supports from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).

As part of the proposed changes, the claims related to thyroid and pancreatic cancers would be retroactive to Jan. 1, 1960.

The changes would apply to full-time, volunteer, and part-time firefighters, firefighters employed by First Nations band councils and fire investigators.

“These everyday heroes work tirelessly to protect the communities we live in and, in return, they deserve to get the care and support they need. By expanding the list of presumptive cancers to include thyroid and pancreatic cancers, firefighters will get faster access to compensation and other benefits, ultimately supporting their recovery,” Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, said in a release on Friday.

According to statistics, firefighters are four times more likely than the general population to die from cancer. On average, 50 to 60 firefighters die of cancer each year in Canada, and half of them are from Ontario.

The province says the proposed changes will help to streamline the assessment of WSIB claims by assuming they are work-related.

“With the addition of pancreatic and thyroid cancers to the list of illnesses already presumed to have come from a long career in firefighting, the Ontario government is sending the message that the health and safety of these first responders is a priority,” said Greg Horton, president of the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association.

“The World Health Organization has reclassified firefighting to its highest level of occupational risk for cancer,” said Rob Grimwood, president of Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs, adding that the changes will provide “faster access to supports and benefits that will aid Ontario’s firefighters in their recoveries.”

The amendments are part of a larger package that expands on the Working for Workers Acts, 2021 and 2022.

The WSIB is funded by employer premiums, and provides wage-loss benefits, medical coverage, and support to help people get back to work after a work-related injury or illness.