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Ontario Expanding Cancer Coverage for Firefighters

Firefighters and investigators make major sacrifices to keep our communities, property and families safe, and we owe it to them to always have their backs.

We’ve already expanded presumptive cancer coverage to reflect the long-term risks firefighters take on as part of their job every day, and we’re building on that progress to help our frontline heroes get the coverage they deserve.

Firefighters die of cancer at a rate up to four times higher than the general population. Presumptive coverage under the WSIB streamlines the assessment of certain firefighter WSIB claims by presuming the worker’s injury or occupational disease is work-related, making it faster and easier for firefighters to access to WSIB benefits and services.

Proposed changes announced today include:

Expanding presumptive coverage for firefighters in the case of primary-site kidney cancer by reducing the required duration of service from 20 to 10 years, which would be the lowest duration of service in Canada.

The province will also propose to remove the requirement that a firefighter’s primary-site colorectal diagnosis must be made before the age of 61.

These changes are building upon measures introduced in our previous Working for Workers bills to a brighter future for all Ontarians and ensuring our province remains the best place to live, work and raise a family.