Initiated by British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Association (BCPFFA) President Todd Schierling, along with Burnaby Local 323, New Westminster Local 256, and Coquitlam Local 1782, and sponsored by New Democratic Party MP Peter Julian (New Westminster-Burnaby, BC), the petition was launched online and on paper on July 2 and shared with IAFF leaders.
By July 10, more than 1,400 had signed the online petition, almost triple the number required to certify it. The paper petition was also a success, receiving more than 400 signatures alone at a Local 323 community event. A senior staff member in Julian’s Parliament Hill office told the IAFF she had never seen a petition garner so many signatures so quickly.
With the petition certified, Julian can now table it in the House of Commons after the fall session begins. Once tabled in the House, the government will have 45 sitting days to respond, stating its current position on PFAS while keeping the issue – a key legislative priority for the IAFF – front and centre on Parliament Hill.
The initiative stemmed from discussions Schierling and other BC delegates from Local 323 and Local 256 had with Julian about PFAS and its dangers during the IAFF’s Canadian Legislative Conference earlier this year in Ottawa.
“Peter’s unwavering determination truly made a difference,” Schierling said. “We are truly appreciative of his commitment and dedication.”
The federal petition dovetails nicely with ongoing local and provincial initiatives aimed at removing PFAS from the fire service, including a draft motion by Vancouver City Council asking the Union of British Columbia Municipalities to support a resolution for provincial funding for PFAS-free firefighting gear. The BCPFFA is in ongoing discussions with the provincial government about PFAS, including a July 9 townhall meeting in Surrey on the issue with BC Premier David Eby.
“We’re tackling this at all levels of government, and that’s the key. All levels of government have to be involved,” Schierling said.
He is asking Canadian affiliates to circulate the petition at community events to maximize the signatures it receives before it closes on Oct. 30. “I’d impress upon all local affiliate leaders to educate their city councils, their provincial legislators, and federal MPs as much as possible so we can expedite a ban on PFAS in our workplace,” he said. “Let’s keep pushing the agenda forward on behalf of the IAFF and our members.”
More information about the initiative, including links to the petition, is available here.
The Canadian Government has already identified PFAS as “chemicals of interest” under its Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) and banned certain uses, but exceptions – including fire fighter turnout gear – persist.
In April, Canadian Legislative Conference delegates lobbied the government to ban all uses of PFAS and to implement a range of other measures, including identifying PFAS as a full class of chemicals under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act; specifying requirements for the safe reclamation and disposal of firefighting gear and foams containing PFAS; banning incineration and secondary use of PFAS-laden gear; expediting the transition to PFAS-free firefighting foams at federal facilities; and implementing “take-back” grants to help municipalities cope with the cost of transitioning to safe firefighting gear.