2024-10-31 18:51:00
More cancers could now be recognized as linked to the profession of firefighter in Quebec. The government wants to add six types to the list of occupational diseases recognized for this profession. An important step forward, according to the Montreal Firefighters Association.
A big step towards ensuring a better life for firefighters who are victims of cancer and their families, or survivors, has been taken thanks to the decision of the Minister of Labor, Jean Boulet, to add six cancers to the list of nine cancers already recognized , in Quebec, as occupational diseases, indicates in a press release the president of the Montreal Firefighters Association, Chris Ross.
Minister Boulet published Wednesday in the Official Gazette of Quebec a draft amendment to the Regulation respecting occupational diseases so that colorectal, breast, testicular, esophageal and brain cancers as well as leukemia are now considered as potentially be caused by the profession of firefighter.
This means that a professional suffering from one of these illnesses would no longer need to prove the link between it and their work to be entitled to compensation from the Commission for Standards, Equity and Health. and occupational safety (CNESST).
When you have cancer, it’s stressful, there’s a lot of anxiety, emphasizes Jean Boulet in an interview. The minister says he wants to prevent professionals from having to wait a year, a year and a half, two years and sometimes more before obtaining compensation from the CNESST.
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The Minister of Labor, Jean Boulet, assures that this file is one of his priorities.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Sylvain Roy Roussel
He says this change is one of his priorities. These are people who have enormous courage, their work deserves to be constantly highlighted. These are people who put their lives at risk to save lives and ensure the safety of the population, underlines the minister.
Jean Boulet says he is hopeful that the regulation will be adopted in February or March 2025.
The president of the Laval Firefighters Association, Jonathan Dufour, also welcomes the approach of the Ministry of Labor. However, he emphasizes that there is still work to be done, particularly because Quebec is among the Canadian provinces which recognize the fewest cancers among firefighters.
Quebec late
The CNESST currently recognizes nine cancers as linked to the profession of firefighter. This is few compared to other provinces, such as British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, which recognize between 18 and 20.
Cancers currently recognized as diseases linked to the profession of firefighter in Quebec
kidney cancer
bladder cancer
prostate cancer
skin cancer
laryngeal cancer
lung cancer
mesothelioma
multiple myeloma
non-Hodgkin lymphoma
If the change requested by Minister Boulet comes into force, the 15 types of cancer recognized by the province will represent the vast majority of forms of the disease diagnosed among firefighters, according to Chris Ross.
The latter has been asking for around fifteen years for the recognition of certain cancers as occupational diseases linked to firefighting work in Quebec.
According to the association he represents, in 15 years, 77 firefighters have died in Montreal from cancer linked to their work, while 3 others died on duty.
Fires do not burn differently in Quebec, Mr. Ross said in an interview. We have exactly the same cancer risks as any firefighter and there is absolutely no reason for a Quebec firefighter to be considered a second-rate firefighter.
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The president of the Montreal Firefighters’ Association, Chris Ross, has been campaigning for around fifteen years for the recognition of cancers linked to the profession of firefighter.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Charles Contant
The Minister of Labor says for his part he is considering adding other cancers to the list of those recognized by the CNESST.
I think we are taking a big step forward, but there are efforts to continue and there are new cancers that will be added over time, of course, he assures.
Next step, prevention
According to Chris Ross, facilitating compensation for firefighters with recognized cancers is a first step in leading to more prevention of these diseases among firefighters.
As long as there is no action on compensation, there is no desire, no interest or no justification to put money into prevention, believes the president of the Firefighters’ Association of Montreal.
Minister Jean Boulet, for his part, ensures that he is working to improve prevention in the province.
With reporting from CBC’s Leah Hendry
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**Interview with Chris Ross, President of the Montreal Firefighters Association**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Chris. The recent announcement by the Quebec government to recognize additional cancers as occupational diseases for firefighters is a significant development. What does this mean for you and your colleagues?
**Chris Ross:** Thank you for having me. This is indeed a historic moment for us. Recognizing six additional cancers—colorectal, breast, testicular, esophageal, brain cancers, and leukemia—means that firefighters like us won’t have to prove the link between our profession and these cancers to receive compensation. It’s a huge relief for those currently battling cancer and for families who have lost loved ones due to occupational diseases.
**Interviewer:** It’s great to hear that this change could expedite the compensation process. Can you tell us how long firefighters typically have to wait for this compensation currently, and how this amendment will change that?
**Chris Ross:** Right now, the waiting period can stretch to a year or even longer, which adds more stress during an already challenging time. With this amendment, if it’s passed, firefighters suffering from one of the recognized cancers will be able to receive support much faster. The Minister of Labor, Jean Boulet, has emphasized that alleviating this stress is a priority.
**Interviewer:** While this is a step forward, you mentioned previously that Quebec lags behind other provinces in recognizing occupational cancers. What do you think needs to happen next to address this issue?
**Chris Ross:** It’s true that with only nine cancers currently recognized, Quebec is far behind provinces like British Columbia and Ontario, which recognize up to 20 types. We continue to advocate for the recognition of more cancers as work-related illnesses. It’s vital for our safety and health that we have comprehensive support for all forms of cancer linked to firefighting.
**Interviewer:** You’ve been advocating for these changes for over 15 years. What has the response been from fellow firefighters and their families during this long campaign?
**Chris Ross:** The response has been overwhelmingly supportive. We’ve seen the toll that cancer takes on our brothers and sisters in service—77 firefighters have died from work-related cancer in Montreal alone over the past 15 years. Their families feel the impact deeply. Each of these steps forward is a testament to their sacrifices and our commitment to ensure that future generations of firefighters are protected.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like there’s still much work to be done. As we move forward, what message do you want to convey to the firefighting community and the public about this ongoing issue?
**Chris Ross:** I want the community to know that we’re not just fighting fires; we’re also fighting for our health and safety. Recognition of these diseases is just the beginning. I urge everyone to support our cause, respect the sacrifices made by our first responders, and hold our government accountable. We deserve to have comprehensive protections in place because when we go out to save lives, our lives should be safeguarded in return.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Chris, for sharing your insights and for your tireless work on behalf of firefighters. We look forward to seeing how these regulations develop in the future.
**Chris Ross:** Thank you for having me. We’ll keep pushing for the support our firefighters need and deserve.
