November 6, 2008

The Hon. Glen Pearson, MP
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6

Dear Mr. Pearson,

On behalf of IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger and our 20,500 members in Canada, congratulations on your re-election as MP for London North Centre. I know that the best interests of your constituents and all Canadians will be your guide during the coming session of parliament.

It has been a great source of pride for the IAFF to count one of our own as a member of parliament in Canada. It is a testament to the esteem in which citizens hold fire fighters, and a testament to your commitment to public service.

I know that since you were first elected you have been a vocal supporter of the IAFF’s Canadian Legislative Agenda in the Liberal Caucus and in parliament, and supportive to the IAFF as we have conducted our federal legislative program.

In addition, your eager participation in the IAFF Canada video we produced last year served to punctuate our message about the strong presence that our members have cultivated in the federal legislative arena in the past 15 years through their hard work and political action efforts.

The IAFF is grateful for your support and assistance, and we look forward to working with you and all of the members of the Liberal Caucus to advance issues of importance to Canada’s professional fire fighters in the future.

During the 40th Session of Parliament, the IAFF will be asking the federal government to implement a national Public Safety Officer Compensation (PSOC) Benefit for the families of fire fighters who are killed or permanently injured in the line of duty, to establish a national office for fire service statistics and to amend the Canada Pension Plan to provide fire fighters with earlier access to CPP benefits.

The IAFF Legislative Fact Sheets on these issues are enclosed for your information. We will also be raising them during our 16th Canadian Legislative Conference in Ottawa in April.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at the IAFF Canadian Office if there is any way I can be of assistance to you during the 40th Session of Parliament or if you would like additional information about the IAFF Legislative Agenda, or any other issue affecting Canada’s professional fire fighters.

In the meantime, congratulations again on your re-election, thank you for your support and assistance and best of luck with your parliamentary duties.

Sincerely yours,

Jim Lee
Assistant to the General President for Canadian Operations