Health committee  Meanwhile, in Canada, firefighters in one province were actually ridiculed in writing by a senior provincial health official for daring to ask during the H1N1 pandemic that they be properly recognized as front-line health care workers and be prioritized. In another province, fire

Health committee  Thank you. Good morning. On behalf of the International Association of Fire Fighters and the 22,000 professional firefighters and emergency medical responders we represent across Canada, we appreciate this opportunity to share our views about vaccine priority lists with the hea

Finance committee  It would be a nationally administered fund. Currently deaths in the line of duty are recognized provincially by the workers' compensation boards. When the provision would meet the requirement--when it would be deemed to be an occupational death--the benefit would be paid, and it

Finance committee  One of the things we've asked for here today is for the fire service statistics to be compiled through Statistics Canada. We believe the infrastructure and all the elements of that are clearly in place. It's more a matter of will to get the information out to the provinces and re

Finance committee  We certainly wouldn't be opposed to it being looked at. Whether or not the paramedics truly belong in the public safety officer envelope is something that should be addressed, and I'm sure paramedics are bringing that forward. We are not opposed to it, no.

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate this opportunity to share our views on behalf of the 21,000 men and women who belong to the International Association of Fire Fighters in Canada. There are two issues I'd like to raise with you today, both of them very important to professi