Burnaby, BC MP sponsors new petitions supporting IAFF’s Canadian legislative priorities

Three legislative priorities are gaining momentum in Parliament following advocacy by Burnaby, BC Local 323 members at the IAFF Canadian Legislative Conference.

Liberal MP Wade Chang, who represents Burnaby Central, has sponsored three public petitions after meeting with Local 323 members in Ottawa. The petitions call on the federal government to index the Memorial Grant Program for First Responders, improve lithium-ion battery safety and strengthen Canada’s airport firefighting regulations.

Each petition outlines why the reforms are needed and ask the federal government to act. The IAFF is urging members to sign all three petitions and to encourage friends, family, and colleagues to do the same.

The petitions can be signed using the links below:

Affiliates can also download and print the petitions for signatures at union meetings and community events:

Once a petition reaches the required number of signatures – 500 for the online version and 25 for the paper version – it will be certified, requiring the federal government to provide a written response with 45 days.

The petitions will remain open for signatures until Dec. 8, 2026.

“We’re grateful to MP Chang and excited about this initiative, which will advance important fire fighter and public safety issues on behalf of our members and IAFF members across Canada,” Burnaby Local 323 President Doug Petti said.

This marks the second time Burnaby fire fighters have partnered with an MP to advance IAFF priorities through the petition process.

In 2024, Local 323 worked with then-MP Peter Julian on a petition to ban toxic PFAS, which drew more than 5,000 signatures. On June 30, 2026, the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2025 took effect, revoking permanent exemptions for three major PFAS subgroups in Canada – PFOS, PFOA and LC-PFCAs.