Firefighters thank provincial Minister for his legislative work

Alberta firefighters have best list of cancers eligible for coverage in Canada

Spruce Grove Fire Services members thank Minister Lukaszuk and Premier Stelmach for their work on Presumptive Cancer Legislation. Pictured L-R: Minister Lukaszuk, Lieutenant Lucas, firefighter Wood, Lieutenant Hofsink, Lieutenant Good and Premier Stelmach

By

June 1, 2011

Four members of Spruce Grove Fire Services had the opportunity to meet with Employment and Immigration Minister Thomas Lukaszuk and Premier Ed Stelmach to thank them for their work on Presumptive Cancer Legislation.

In early May, Minister Lukaszuk announced enhanced Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB) cancer coverage for firefighters. The enhancement included four more cancers being added to the list of cancers with presumptive WCB coverage. The four cancers added to the presumptive coverage list are prostate, breast, skin and multiple myeloma, bringing the list total to 14.

If a firefighter is diagnosed with these, or any of the other 10 cancers on the list, and the firefighter meets the exposure criteria, the cancer is presumed to be work related. A second legislation passed in May extended this same coverage to Alberta's 10,000 volunteer and casual firefighters.

“Due to the inherent risk in our careers as professional firefighters, we are exposed to a wide range of carcinogens" says Lieutenant Alan Hofsink. “This is why it's important for the membership of IAFF Local 3021 that there is this legislation. We now know that both our families and ourselves will be assisted by the City of Spruce Grove and WCB if we contract cancer due to work related exposure.”

Alberta firefighters, along with those in Manitoba, now have access to the most comprehensive list of presumptive cancers in all of Canada.