National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting Act

An Act to establish a national framework for the prevention and treatment of cancers linked to firefighting

Sponsor

Sherry Romanado  Liberal

Introduced as a private member’s bill.

Status

This bill has received Royal Assent and is, or will soon become, law.

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment provides for the development of a national framework designed to raise awareness of cancers linked to firefighting with the goal of improving access for firefighters to cancer prevention and treatment.
The enactment also designates the month of January, in each year, as “Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month”.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Votes

March 8, 2023 Passed 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-224, An Act to establish a national framework for the prevention and treatment of cancers linked to firefighting
June 22, 2022 Passed 2nd reading of Bill C-224, An Act to establish a national framework for the prevention and treatment of cancers linked to firefighting

National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting ActPrivate Members' Business

February 15th, 2023 / 6:10 p.m.
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Liberal

Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC

moved that the bill be read the third time and passed.

Madam Speaker, before I begin, I want to take a moment to thank the member for Cloverdale—Langley City for agreeing to switch places with me on the order of precedence so my private member's bill, Bill C-224, an act to establish a national framework for the prevention and treatment of cancers linked to firefighting, could come back to the House for report stage earlier than scheduled.

I thank him because, if we have learned anything since my bill was first introduced in the House in January 2022, it is that, when it comes to protecting our Canadian firefighters from the risk of developing a duty-related cancer, time is of the essence. Every day can mean more dangerous exposure, more new cancer diagnoses and, heaven forbid, more preventable deaths.

Like many of my colleagues, I am sure, I have heard a lot of firefighters over the past year say how very necessary and essential this bill is.

Men and women from every province and territory have contacted me to tell me about their cancer battle or that of a dear colleague whose life was cut short by the dangers firefighters face every day at work.

Right here in the House, we have heard the heartfelt words of members on both sides of the aisle, some of them former firefighters themselves, who stood up to share their own experiences and to pay tribute to the co-workers and dear friends they have lost to cancer along the way in the service of Canadians.

Last June, the Standing Committee on Health heard testimony from representatives of the International Association of Fire Fighters and the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs on the prevalence of cancer among firefighters.

They told us about the risks that these first responders face every day and about the importance of this bill in raising public awareness and promoting information sharing on firefighter cancer prevention and treatment and ultimately, in saving lives.

I have also heard it, as I am certain many members here have, from family members or loved ones of firefighters who are currently battling an occupational cancer or have sadly succumbed to one.

Recently, Donna from Alberta wrote to me to voice her support for Bill C-224 and to tell me how she only wished it had come earlier. In 2021, Donna lost her husband, a retired Edmonton district chief with 36 years of service, to pancreatic cancer. He had been feeling unwell for some time and had undergone countless tests, but pancreatic cancer, which is not on Alberta's list of presumptive cancers, was simply not on his doctor's radar. By the time her husband received the diagnosis, his cancer had reached stage four.

As the daughter and wife of former firefighters, my heart immediately went out to Donna. I remember well the fear that would grip me each time they went out on a fire call and the huge sense of relief I would feel every time they walked back through the door when it was over, thinking they were out of harm's way and safe, but we now know the danger is never really gone.

The facts are there. Last summer, following an in-depth review of scientific literature on the link between the occupational exposure of firefighters and their risk of cancer, the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer reclassified firefighting as a Group 1 profession, the classification with the highest cancer hazards.

I made a pledge to Donna that I would not rest until lasting and positive change comes from the sacrifice she, her husband and firefighters and their families across the country have made to keep Canadians and our communities safe, so what I want to say today is, although there are a lot more stories like this out there, I think we can all say that we have heard enough. We have heard enough to now do right by the brave firefighters of our country and the loved ones who stand by them in support of the critical job they do.

I, therefore, humbly ask all members to help me get this bill through the House as quickly as possible by agreeing to collapse debate tonight so we can get it to a vote. Let us make sure that, by the time the International Association of Firefighters gathers in Ottawa next month for its legislative conference, Bill C-224 will have moved on to the Senate and will be one step closer to becoming law. We owe it to Donna. We owe it to them.

The House proceeded to the consideration of Bill C-224, An Act to establish a national framework for the prevention and treatment of cancers linked to firefighting, as reported (with amendments).

HealthCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

December 14th, 2022 / 4:35 p.m.
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Liberal

Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the ninth report of the Standing Committee on Health regarding Bill C-224, an act to establish a national framework for the prevention and treatment of cancers linked to firefighting.

The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments.

We who work in the standing committees are privileged to have the support of some professional support folks from the House of Commons and the Library of Parliament, and I would like to recognize the clerk of the health committee, Patrick Williams, and the analysts from the Library of Parliament, Sarah Dodsworth and Kelly Farrah, and wish them a joyous and peaceful holiday season.

December 13th, 2022 / 12:45 p.m.
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Liberal

Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you for your clarification, Mr. Garon.

This is the last government amendment on our list. We have only 11 minutes left, and we all want a chance to high-five or hug Sherry at the end of this, so hopefully we can get through it.

This is on paragraph 3(3)(f). I move that Bill C-224, in clause 3, be amended by replacing lines 9 and 10 on page 3 with the following:

(f) prepare a summary of existing standards that recognize cancers linked to firefighting as occupational diseases.

December 13th, 2022 / 12:35 p.m.
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Liberal

Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON

The next amendment is on paragraph 3(3)(b). I move that Bill C-224, in clause 3, be amended by replacing line 28 on page 2 with the following

fighting and compile information relating to those needs;

December 13th, 2022 / 12:15 p.m.
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Liberal

Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'm still on clause 3, page 2. I move that Bill C-224, in clause 3, be amended by replacing line 22 on page 2 with the following:

Content

(3) The national framework may include measures to

December 13th, 2022 / 12:15 p.m.
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Liberal

Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I move that Bill C-224, in clause 3, be amended by replacing line 18 on page 2 with the following:

with the representatives of the provincial and territorial governments

It's just adding “territorial”.

December 13th, 2022 / 12:15 p.m.
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Liberal

Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON

Thank you.

I have an amendment for subclause 3(2). I move that Bill C-224, in clause 3, be amended by replacing line 17 on page 2 with the following:

Consultation

(2) In developing the national framework, the Minister must consult

December 13th, 2022 / 12:10 p.m.
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Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

I call the meeting back to order.

We are now going to move to clause-by-clause consideration of the bill. Just for members' information, we have a couple of people here to support us.

You will see Tim Singer online. He's the director general of environmental and radiation health sciences at Health Canada. If there are technical questions about the bill or the proposed amendments from a departmental perspective, Mr. Singer will be able to help us.

We also have with us, as legislative counsel, Marie-Hélène Sauvé. She will be able to help with any of the procedural, technical and legal elements of the amendments.

Before we start, I'd like to provide members of the committee with some instructions and a few comments on how the committee will proceed with clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-224. I know you heard this script before when we went through the process on Bill C-31.

Amendments will be considered in the order in which they appear in the bill and in the package each member has received from the clerk. Members should note that amendments must be submitted in writing to the clerk of the committee. Amendments have been given an alphanumeric number in the top right corner to indicate which party submitted them. There's no need for a seconder to move an amendment. Once moved, you'll need unanimous consent to withdraw it.

During debate on an amendment, members are permitted to move subamendments. These subamendments must be submitted in writing. Once every clause has been voted on, the committee will vote on the short title, the preamble and the title of the bill itself. An order to reprint the bill may be required—if amendments are adopted—so that the House has a proper copy for use at report stage.

Pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of clause 1, the short title, and of the preamble are postponed.

The chair, therefore, calls clause 2.

(Clause 2 agreed to)

(On clause 3)

Is there any discussion?

Go ahead, Mr. van Koeverden.

December 13th, 2022 / noon
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Second Vice-President, French Language and Language Diversity, Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs

Richard Amnotte

I totally agree. We need to ensure sufficient financial support for the research and science community. This would allow us to make progress in the development of means of prevention and protection for firefighters against the effects of smoke from fires.

It would also allow us to determine as quickly as possible whether the means put in place are effective. To date, these measures are recognized as the best practices known in the fire service community, and they are most likely based on the American model and, increasingly, on the methods and models developed in Canada.

A number of questions need to be asked. Is washing with water and soap sufficient? Is the type of respiratory protection adequate? Are the fabrics used to make firefighters' clothing appropriate and do they block as much of the contaminants as possible?

Zero risk does not exist. However, we must get as close as possible to zero risk, and every means and measure counts.

We believe that the wording of Bill C‑224 would open this door to the Canadian government and the scientific community. It would allow the research to continue, while engaging the stakeholders, and ensuring that the safety of firefighters is taken into account.

December 13th, 2022 / 11:55 a.m.
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Director, Science and Research, International Association of Fire Fighters

Neil McMillan

I agree wholeheartedly. I want to thank you for your comments, and I echo your thanks to the sponsor of the bill, MP Romanado.

Screening is important, and sometimes there can be a disconnect with primary care practitioners, who may not be aware of risk factors. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in the U.S. provided guidance for the practitioners of firefighters who have high rates of certain PFAS chemicals. That type of report is important, because when we have high levels of heavy metals and other chemicals in our bodies, we're looking to our doctors to give us recommendations, and they'll need to know what interventions exist to help reduce those contaminants within us.

Again, going back to Bill C-224, this framework will help provide the first step in ensuring that practitioners get the education they require about what we're exposed to, and then hopefully they'll build off that to generate recommendations for interventions.

December 13th, 2022 / 11:50 a.m.
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Battalion Chief, Fort McMurray Firefighters Association

Ryan Pitchers

I believe that a major emergency such as the one that took place in Fort McMurray so many years ago needs to be put into the framework of provincial legislation across the provinces, as my brother said at the table as a witness.

Once the data is there, each province should accept it through the framework of Bill C-224. Hopefully these major emergencies don't happen as frequently as in Slave Lake, Fort McMurray and other places in Ontario years ago, but this stuff should be included in presumptive legislation, and I encourage provinces to pass it.

December 13th, 2022 / 11:45 a.m.
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Director, Science and Research, International Association of Fire Fighters

Neil McMillan

There's a wide gap. There are five provinces that presently cover 19 cancers. Ontario covers 17, I believe, and there are potentially nine in Quebec. I believe there are 10 in New Brunswick. Newfoundland and Labrador just acquired eight additional cancers to be added to their presumptive cancer list.

This is significant. It's important. Again, I believe it's really necessary that when science supports it in one jurisdiction, it supports it in the other. I believe that Bill C-224 will help provide the initiative and critical mass to hopefully harmonize presumptive cancer coverage across the provinces.

December 13th, 2022 / 11:35 a.m.
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Second Vice-President, French Language and Language Diversity, Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs

Richard Amnotte

Yes, it is. Now, we have to ask ourselves whether this should be part of Bill C‑224, which we consider to be immediately applicable as is, or of the program itself. We could add to the latter the list of cancers that the Canadian government wishes to recognize as being directly related to the firefighting profession, so that the beneficiaries of firefighters whose death was attributed to one of these cancers would be eligible for the program.

December 13th, 2022 / 11:35 a.m.
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Second Vice-President, French Language and Language Diversity, Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs

Richard Amnotte

The list of recognized cancers is currently a provincial responsibility. If we had a harmonized list, similar to what is proposed in Bill C‑224, it could facilitate access to this compensation once the death of a firefighter in the line of duty is recognized.

Would the parliamentary process allow this to happen? That is up to you. However, we hope that this recognition program for firefighters who die in the line of duty can be applied universally to any firefighter, regardless of his or her province or territory.