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15th Canadian Legislative Conference April 23-25, 2007

February 7, 2007 – The federal legislative issues most important to Canada’s professional fire fighters will be front and centre on Parliament Hill April 23-25 when IAFF members from across Canada descend on Ottawa for the 15th Canadian Legislative Conference.

This edition of the conference will mark the second under Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative minority government. Legislative issues on the front burner include the need to establish a national Public Safety Officer Compensation (PSOC) benefit, and the need to establish a national office for collecting, analyzing and reporting national fire service statistics in Canada.

The IAFF is also lobbying for changes to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) that would permit fire fighters to have access to CPP benefits five years earlier. CPP reform for fire fighters is the subject of Bill C-306, a private member’s bill introduced by Conservative MP Jeff Watson (Essex, Ontario), as well as a private member’s motion, M-25, introduced by New Democratic MP Peter Stoffer (Sackville-Eastern Shore, Nova Scotia).

Three other motions pertaining to IAFF issues are currently before Parliament, all of them introduced by New Democratic Party MPs. M-49 and M-63, both introduced by Libby Davies (Vancouver East, British Columbia) address the PSOC benefit and airport fire fighting regulations respectively, and M-168, introduced by Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus, addresses haz-mat training.

The issue of increased first responder training for hazardous materials and CBRN incidents was addressed in Budget 2007 with the announcement of $1 million over two years to fund the IAFF's training programs in Canada.

Delegates can register for the IAFF Canadian Legislative Conference by making a FIREPAC Canada Leadership Trust or Founder’s Circle contribution. The conference will be held at the Delta Ottawa Hotel. Complete information about conference and hotel registration is being mailed to local presidents and secretaries.

Detailed information about the IAFF’s 2007 Canadian Legislative Agenda has been mailed to affiliate presidents and secretaries in advance of the conference. Information about the IAFF’s legislative agenda has also been mailed to all of Canada’s MPs and Senators in advance of the conference.

The 15th Canadian Legislative Conference will feature an orientation session for new delegates, issues-focus session, guest speakers and more, including the popular IAFF Parliamentary Reception which is attended annually by more than 100 MPs and Senators.

A record 126 delegates attended the IAFF 14th Canadian Legislative Conference in 2006, and met with a total of 141 MPs and Senators.

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