The IAFF’s highly successful Canadian HazMat & CBRNE Training Initiative will continue enhancing first responder and public safety for another three years following a renewed $1.5 million funding commitment from the Government of Canada.
The extension, announced Feb. 17, continues the IAFF’s partnership with Public Safety Canada through March 2029. The funding will support at least 60 classes nationwide, training a minimum of 1,500 responders.
Our ongoing partnership with Public Safety Canada to deliver this vital training is a testament to our IAFF training and to the dedication and skill of those in our union who help deliver it.
IAFF General President Edward Kelly
The renewal reflects the program’s impact and the IAFF’s reputation as a leader in fire fighter and public safety in Canada, said General President Edward Kelly.
“HazMat incidents put the public and fire fighters at great risk,” he said. “By continuing this partnership with Public Safety Canada, the IAFF is making sure first responders across Canada have the training needed to keep their communities safe.”
“This is great news for fire fighters and for all emergency responders who risk their safety every day protecting the public from hazardous materials incidents,” he said. “Our ongoing partnership with Public Safety Canada to deliver this vital training is a testament to our IAFF training and to the dedication and skill of those in our union who help deliver it.”
Established in 2009 following IAFF advocacy, the HazMat & CBRNE Training Initiative has trained more than 10,000 fire fighters and other emergency responders to respond safely to hazardous materials incidents. The program is Pro Board–certified, compliant with NFPA 472/1072 standards, and offered in English and French.
Originally established as a two-year pilot, the initiative has operated continuously since 2009 through a series of federal funding extensions.
IAFF instructors deliver the training directly in host communities, reducing travel costs and expanding access for rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. The curriculum is tailored to local hazards, and both operations-level and train-the-trainer courses are available.
Recent courses were held in Sydney, N.S., where 50 members of Cape Breton Local 2779 were trained, and in Oshawa, Ont., where 50 members of Oshawa Local 465 and Whitby Local 2036 received training.
Affiliates interested can email IAFF Canadian Operations at [email protected].
