Proposed amendments to the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act will receive Second Reading in the House of Assembly today. These amendments propose expanded presumptive cancer and cardiac coverage for career and volunteer firefighters.
Minister Davis will be available to speak about the proposed amendments today (Tuesday, October 18). The availability will take place in front of the House of Assembly at 1:00 p.m.
If approved, this legislation will result in an expansion of coverage to include eight more cancers: prostate, multiple myeloma, cervical, ovarian, penile, pancreatic, thyroid and skin, as well as cardiac events that occur within 24 hours of a firefighter responding to an emergency.
Presumptive cancer coverage for firefighters means that firefighters meeting the criteria who contract cancer from a list of presumptively covered cancers are presumed to have contracted the cancer from their work as a firefighter unless the contrary is shown.
Expanding presumptive coverage for career and volunteer firefighters in the province to include additional cancers and certain cardiac events was a recommendation of the 2019 Statutory Review.
There are approximately 450 career firefighters and 5,900 volunteer firefighters in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Quotes
“The Provincial Government is committed to providing a strong workers’ compensation system in Newfoundland and Labrador. As the Minister Responsible for Labour, I am pleased to bring these amendments forward, as these proposed changes will benefit all career and volunteer firefighters in the province. If passed, they will receive wage-loss benefits, medical aids, and certain other benefits through WorkplaceNL.”
Honourable Bernard Davis
Minister Responsible for WorkplaceNL
“Expanding presumptive cancer coverage for career and volunteer firefighters recognizes the risks of responding to fires and other emergencies. WorkplaceNL is pleased that this presumption coverage will allow us to adjudicate claims faster as we support firefighters and their families during a stressful time in their lives.”
Dennis Hogan
CEO, WorkplaceNL
“Firefighters answer the call to duty each and every day, placing themselves in harm’s way in the service of communities across Newfoundland & Labrador. They do so willingly, even when knowing that their profession is struck down at an alarming rate from cancers and cardiac injuries directly linked to job-related exposures. It is without question that the action taken here today from this Government, is in recognition of both the risk taken and the value provided by fire fighters across the province. On behalf of Newfoundland and Labrador firefighters and their families, I would like to extend my utmost gratitude to Premier Furey, Minister Davis and the entire Government for doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right cause.”
Jim O ’Toole
Vice President, Atlantic Provinces Professional Firefighters Association
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Media contacts
Debbie Marnell
Environment and Climate Change
709-729-2575, 699-9048
debbiemarnell@gov.nl.ca
Carla Riggs
WorkplaceNL
709-778-1590
Carla.riggs@workplacenl.ca
Jim O’Toole
Vice President, Atlantic Provinces Professional Firefighters Association
709-682-3359
appffanl@gmail.com