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Firefighter cancer Bill C-224 has passed
June 26, 2023
By FFIC Staff
June 26, 2023, Ottawa – Bill C-224, an Act to establish a national framework for the prevention and treatment of cancers linked to fire fighting, received royal assent on June 22 and will become law.
Bill C-224 was introduced by Quebec MP Sherry Romanado in January 2022.
“Cancer is responsible for over 85 per cent of all duty-related deaths among firefighters in Canada. Awareness, education and information sharing are critical to the prevention and early detection of the cancers linked to fire fighting,” Romanado said in a government press release. “This bill represents concrete action to better protect the health and safety of the men and women who put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe. That it passed unanimously in both the House and the Senate is a testament to the high regard in which our country’s holds its firefighters and the essential work they do.”
Through Bill C-224, starting next year, the month of January will be declared “Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month” throughout Canada. This important declaration will raise awareness about cancers linked to fire fighting and best practices to prevent these cancers.
The royal assent of Bill C-224 builds on commitments to implement an action plan to protect people in Canada, including firefighters, from exposure to toxic flame retardants found in household products, reported the federal government. It also expands the federal government’s action plan to protect firefighters from harmful chemicals released during household fires, which was announced in August 2021.
Over the next year, Health Canada plans to develop a national framework that raises awareness of cancers linked to fire fighting, that supports improved access for firefighters to cancer prevention and treatment, and that provides a common direction for stakeholders to address cancer among firefighters.
Specifically, Bill C-224 paves the way for Health Canada to support valuable research on the link between certain types of cancer and firefighting, make recommendations regarding regular screenings for cancers linked to firefighting, and promote research and improve data collection on the prevention and treatment of cancers linked to firefighting.
Health Canada is engaging with stakeholders to inform the development of the national framework and will work with all relevant parties to better protect firefighters in the line of duty, stated the press release.
Government of Canada announces action plan to protect firefighters from harmful chemicals
From: Environment and Climate Change Canada
News release
August 11, 2021 – Ottawa (Ontario)
Fighting fires is essential and dangerous work. In addition to the physical hazards faced by firefighters, some household products become more dangerous when they burn. In particular, firefighters can be exposed to toxic substances, such as certain harmful flame retardants in upholstered furniture, mattresses, and electronic devices, when responding to a fire. The Government of Canada has heard concerns from firefighters and stakeholders, and is taking action to protect these first responders in their lifesaving work.
Today, the Minister of Health, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, announced a comprehensive action plan to protect firefighters from harmful chemicals released during household fires.
The plan includes actions to:
- Ban harmful chemical flame retardants.
- Support the development and use of safe flame retardants, including less harmful alternatives to chemical flame retardants in household products.
- Conduct research and monitoring to assess levels of exposure.
- Identify practices for firefighters to reduce harm, such as improvements to personal protective equipment; and
- Share information and raise awareness.
Federal action to address flame retardants is part of the Chemicals Management Plan, a Government of Canada initiative aimed at reducing the risks posed by chemicals to Canadians and their environment. The Government of Canada will work with stakeholders as it implements its plan and continue to inform the public on milestones moving forward.
Quotes
“Firefighters put themselves in harm’s way to protect us. Today, we’re announcing measures to protect them too. This plan includes actions which will ban harmful chemicals and promote more information sharing, so that we can continue working with firefighters and industry to keep first responders safe.”
– The Hon. Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health
“We have listened to the concerns expressed by firefighters about the risks they face in their work. That is why the Government of Canada is taking necessary action to protect firefighters and reduce their exposure to chemical flame retardants. We will continue to work with stakeholders as we identify best practices and implement measures to reduce harm for firefighters.”
– The Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
“The Government of Canada has been a strong advocate in improving the safety of our firefighters, especially considering the dangers of their job that they face every day. By taking these necessary actions to reduce the risks in the use of flame retardants, we can further support our firefighters and the incredible work they do to protect our communities.”
– Terry Beech, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (B.C.)
“Firefighters face many dangers due to smoke exposure during a fire. Chemical flame retardants in furniture create a blacker, thicker, and more toxic smoke and offer no benefit to firefighters, or to families trying to escape a burning home. The International Association of Fire Fighters is encouraged that the Government of Canada is taking action to ban harmful flame retardants, researching the impacts of burning flame retardants on firefighters, and studying how to reduce our exposure. We are also encouraged that the Government has produced guidance to help manufacturers, importers, advertisers, and sellers of consumer products make their products without chemical flame retardants. Let’s support businesses in adopting these practices whenever possible.”
– Mike Carter, District Vice President, International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
“I would like to thank the Government of Canada for listening to the voice of firefighters on the risks we face on a daily basis while performing our jobs to protect communities and citizens. Fires today burn hotter and faster than ever before, aided by the chemical soup of toxins contained within our homes and businesses. Chemical flame retardants designed to keep us safe can actually contribute negatively once the product combusts. These steps will serve to enhance the use of safe flame retardants and to work with firefighters to reduce the dangers we face every day.”
– Gord Ditchburn, President, British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters’ Association
“We know that people in North Vancouver want to protect their neighbours, including their firefighters who are there when needed. We are pleased that the Government of Canada is taking action that will make our job less dangerous by reducing harmful chemical flame retardants in furniture – chemicals that end up in the smoke during fires. Actions such as mandatory labelling of certain products will help Vancouverites – and all Canadians – make informed choices about the products they buy.”
– Ryan Stewart, President, District of North Vancouver Fire Fighters, Local 1183
Quick facts
- Flame retardants are made up of various types of chemicals that are used in or applied to products. They are used to keep items from catching on fire and to limit the spread of fire. They can be found in a variety of products, including upholstered furniture, mattresses, electronics, textiles, and foam and rubber products.
- To ensure that harmful chemicals are identified, the Government of Canada has already assessed more than 150 flame retardants, taken action to restrict or phase out twelve harmful flame-retardant substances, and proposed to take action on an additional six flame retardants.
- The Chemicals Management Plan brings together various federal chemicals programs under a single strategy aimed at assessing environmental and human health risks posed by chemical substances and organisms, and managing toxic substances according to the risks they present to human health and the environment.
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Associated links
Contacts
Joanna Sivasankaran
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
819-790-1907
Joanna.Sivasankaran@ec.gc.ca
Media Relations
Environment and Climate Change Canada
819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll‑free)
media@ec.gc.ca
Thierry Bélair
Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu
Minister of Health
613-957-0200
Media Relations
Health Canada
613-957-2983
hc.media.sc@canada.ca
Public Inquiries
613-957-2991
1-866-225-0709
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Headlines News
Health Canada investing $12.29 million in prevention and treatment of cancer for firefighters
October 8, 2024
By Laura Aiken
October 8, 2024, Ottawa — On Oct. 7, the Mark Holland, Minister of Health, tabled the National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting in Parliament and announced an investment of $12.29 million to advance firefighter health and safety.
New federal actions will focus on raising awareness and promoting information sharing, generating scientific knowledge, and developing guidance and addressing training needs.
Health Canada will convene stakeholders to raise awareness of cancers linked to fire fighting, mobilize partners and identify opportunities for coordinated action. Key actions include establishing a national advisory group with all orders of government, Indigenous partners, and key stakeholders, as well as developing online resources of accessible health information.
In order to track health outcomes across firefighter populations and to better understand firefighter cancer incidence and mortality, the federal government will establish a National Firefighter Cancer Registry, led by Statistics Canada, to track health outcomes over time. Health Canada will also initiate targeted research on cancers linked to firefighting to build scientific evidence for underrepresented sub-populations of firefighters.
New investments will support the development of guidance for diagnostic testing and new tools to address training needs within the health care sector. This could lead to earlier diagnoses that may result in better health outcomes. To address gaps in equipment and health and safety standards, investments will also support the development of standards for wildland firefighters to support improved occupational health and safety for their unique needs. These prevention efforts will reduce the burden and costs to the health care system.
Following Royal Assent of the National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting Act in June 2023, Health Canada engaged with firefighter organizations, researchers, health care providers, other federal departments, Indigenous partners, and all orders of government to inform the Framework and federal actions. In keeping with the intent of the Framework, Health Canada will continue to convene and engage partners to inspire collective action to better protect all firefighters in Canada from occupational cancers.