B.C. fire fighters poised for major advance in cancer legislation with NDP win

IAFF affiliates in British Columbia are on track for a groundbreaking advance in presumptive cancer legislation after the New Democratic Party (NDP) Government secured majority status in the wake of the Oct. 19 provincial election.

October 31 • 2024

IAFF affiliates in British Columbia are on track for a groundbreaking advance in presumptive cancer legislation after the New Democratic Party (NDP) Government secured majority status in the wake of the Oct. 19 provincial election.

In its election platform, the party committed to expanding the province’s occupational disease presumptions for fire fighters to include all forms of cancer, with a required period of employment of only two years.

Currently, 18 types of cancer are covered in B.C., with eligibility for most ranging from 10 to 20 years in the profession. When the new law is implemented, the province will lead Canada as the only jurisdiction with all cancers recognized as occupational in fire fighters.

The NDP has also committed to working with the Canadian Government on implementing the National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting, a comprehensive initiative created by the enactment of Bill C-224 in 2023.

“Occupational cancer is the scourge of our profession, and this advance – made possible by the strong work of our brothers and sisters in the BC Professional Fire Fighters Association – acknowledges the serious health risks fire fighters face,” said General President Edward Kelly. “Expanding presumptive coverage will save lives and protect families.”

BCPFFA President Todd Schierling is enthusiastic about the significant commitment on presumptive cancer coverage, and what it would mean for the affiliate’s 4,700 members and their families.

The BCPFFA did not endorse any political party, but worked constructively with all parties – including the BC Conservatives and the BC Greens – to educate them on member needs. After meeting with the BCPFFA during the campaign, the BC Conservative Party also committed to ‘all forms of cancer’ presumption, including a two-year latency period.

“All three parties demonstrated support for fire fighter issues. The election was extremely close, but in the end, we’re moving forward with solid commitments strengthening our position on key issues that will deliver important benefits to our members and their families,” Schierling said.

“We could not have achieved this without the unified efforts of the entire IAFF,” said Schierling. He noted it honours the legacy of the late Robert E. Hall, a Vancouver Local 18 member and former BCPFFA Secretary-Treasurer, whose dedicated lobbying led to B.C.’s first presumptive cancer legislation in 2005, covering seven cancers. Hall died in the line of duty from occupational cancer in 2007.

All three parties demonstrated support for fire fighter issues. The election was extremely close, but in the end, we’re moving forward with solid commitments strengthening our position on key issues that will deliver important benefits to our members and their families

BCPFFA President Todd Schierling

First enacted in Manitoba in 2002, presumptive cancer laws for fire fighters now exist in all 13 provinces and territories, but the number of cancers covered in each jurisdiction varies, with Saskatchewan currently setting the benchmark at 22. Most provinces include at least 18 types of cancer in their presumptive regimes, as well as heart injuries and post-traumatic stress injuries.
During the campaign, a majority of the BCPFFA’s 56 affiliates endorsed local NDP or Conservative candidates, and one independent candidate, with endorsements reaching two thirds of the province’s 93 ridings. The NDP’s commitment on Bill C-224 is welcome, he says, as it will advance cancer protections in other important areas, such as diagnostic screening. “This builds on the work that MP Sherry Romanado, General President Edward Kelly and Chris Ross, President from Montreal Local 125 have done,” Schierling said.

On Oct. 7, the Canadian Government announced $12.29 million in funding for the initiative over five years, plus ongoing funding of $220,000 annually.

In addition to advocating for the swift enactment of all-cancer coverage, the BCPFFA has several legislative priorities to present to Premier David Eby and his NDP government. These include making all cancer presumptions retroactive to 1970, eliminating PFAS from firefighter workplaces, securing funding for the association’s mental health resilience program, integrating IAFF Responding to the Interface training into the provincial wildfire curriculum, and transitioning to three-party panels for interest arbitrations.

Over the past seven years, the NDP government has supported the BCPFFA by expanding presumptive cancer coverage, lowering required periods of employment for some cancers, introducing occupational stress injury coverage, providing funding for Occupational Awareness Training, reforming WorkSafe BC to index disability payments, expanding EMS scope of practice and legislating five employer-paid sick days for all workers.