It's like Groundhog Day. I'm going to say the same thing I just said. The current framework as it's written, which I like, would “establish national standards to recognize cancers linked to firefighting as occupational diseases”. I personally have no problem with that. I think it's good. I think there should be national standards to recognize cancers linked to firefighting as occupational diseases. To me that doesn't require any province to necessarily adopt them, but they would establish an important national benchmark.
Having said that, the Liberal amendment waters that down by saying the framework would “prepare a summary of existing standards that recognize cancers linked to firefighting as occupational diseases”. All that would mean, really, is taking all the existing standards across the country and preparing a summary. I think the Bloc's amendment is better. It says that the framework should “make recommendations for establishing a list of cancers linked to firefighting that should be recognized as occupational diseases.” I like that better because, as opposed to just doing a very neutral gathering of the patchwork of standards, it would go further and would establish a list of the cancers that should be recognized.
I think that's a better amendment and one that would be more helpful for our firefighters. It would mean more progress in the direction we need to go.
I'm going to say no to the Liberals' G-8 and yes to BQ-4.