Proposed amendments would cover 10,000 additional firefighters
Proposed amendments to Alberta’s Workers’ Compensation Act will mean the list of cancers presumed to be work-related will apply to the province’s 10,000 volunteer, part-time and casual firefighters.
The province recently announced the addition of four cancers to the presumptive coverage list.
If passed, the amendment will allow volunteer, part-time and casual firefighters to receive compensation for 14 presumptive cancers without the burden of proof if they have been regularly exposed to the hazards of fire.
British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories and Nunavut have similar presumptive coverage for part-time firefighters, according to the Alberta government.
“These cancers don’t discriminate between full-time and volunteer firefighters,” said Al Schram, Edson fire chief and first vice-president of the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association. “Regardless of how many hours in a day are dedicated to their profession, our firefighters face risks to help Albertans. This is a day of celebration.”
