Photo Courtesy of Wildland Fire Management/Government of Yukon.
Whitehorse, YT – Wildland forest firefighters in the Yukon are one step closer to receiving equitable health protections under proposed legislative changes introduced by the territorial government.
The Government of Yukon has tabled Bill No. 6 in the Yukon Legislative Assembly to amend the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Act. If passed, the amendments will expand the Act’s definition of a firefighter to formally include wildland forest firefighters under the territory’s cancer presumption coverage.
Under the updated legislation, wildland crews will receive the exact same presumptive coverage currently afforded to full-time, part-time, and volunteer municipal firefighters. This shifts the initial burden of proof off the worker as a cancer diagnosis will be legally presumed work-related unless evidence proves otherwise.
Minister responsible for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board Laura Lang emphasized the danger wildland crews face every season to protect Yukon communities. “Every fire season, wildland forest firefighters step into danger to keep Yukoners and our communities safe,” said Lang. “Updating the legislation to extend them presumptive coverage honours the significance of their service and reflects our government’s commitment to supporting them.” The shift fulfills a key mandate commitment by the territorial government to close the coverage gap for wildland personnel.
The Whitehorse Firefighters Association strongly backed the move. In Tuesday’s press release Nicholas O’Carroll, a representative for the association, noted that while firefighters routinely fight for local safety, the government’s action marks an important step in fighting for them.
While the proposed new legislation received praise, it also drew commentary from the territorial opposition. Yukon NDP Leader Kate White welcomed the inclusion of wildland firefighters, but criticized the timeline required to reach this milestone.
In a media release on Tuesday, White stated that wildland firefighters “should never have had to fight this long to be treated the same as other firefighters in the territory,” and pointed to years of advocacy by firefighters pushing for fair health coverage.
The firefighter cancer presumption was originally established in 2011 and updated in subsequent years. It historically left out seasonal wildland crews, who could still file claims, but lacked the same presumptive coverage.
Amendments under Bill 6 remain subject to formal debate and approval in the Yukon Legislative Assembly.
