Province Supports Emergency Volunteers
Nova Scotia opened a firehose of support to its fire departments and ground search and rescue organizations today.
More than 340 organizations will each receive a one-time grant of $10,000. It is a special program—$3.5 million—to help the volunteer fire organizations recover from fundraising losses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Premier Tim Houston said, “The pandemic has had a big impact on municipalities and volunteer fire departments. Firefighters and ground search and rescue crews are great at raising money in their community, but their efforts were held back by COVID.” Houston added, “We hope this will help make up for some fundraising losses.”
Each organization is free to use the grant to best meet the needs of the department, its volunteers or the needs of the wider community.
Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohr said, “Our volunteer fire departments, ground search and rescue crews, and First Nations fire departments are the first to respond when their communities and residents need help. This is our opportunity to recognize their important contributions and provide some relief from the impacts of COVID-19.”
Organizations will not have to apply for the grant and funds will go directly to the organizations.
Caring for Firefighters
Meanwhile, the province is enhancing insurance coverage under the Workers’ Compensation Act to include a number of types of cancer and heart attacks that can be related to the dangers in firefighting.
The province has long recognized six types of cancer that may be logically presumed from the smoke and chemicals released in fires. Under the new act, 19 different forms of cancer are covered for firefighters and their families.
Also new is insurance coverage for heart attacks that occur within twenty-four hours of an emergency call.
Premier Houston says, “Firefighters put their health at risk and their lives on the line every day. Those who protect us should, in turn, be protected by their government and have access to the workplace injury coverage they need when they need it.”
The additional coverage will be in amendments to the Firefighters Compensation Regulations under the Workers' Compensation Act.
The 13 types of cancer being added are: esophageal, lung, testicular, ureter, breast, multiple myeloma, prostate, skin, ovarian, cervical, penile, thyroid, and pancreatic.
When Nova Scotia provided cancer coverage for bladder, brain, colorectal, kidney cancer, leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, it was a first in Canada. The Minister of Labour, Jill Balser, says, “About 6,600 firefighters and their families will benefit from these changes, making Nova Scotia one of the leading provinces in Canada for presumptive coverage for firefighters.”
The amended regulations take effect July 1. Firefighters with a cancer diagnosis since July 1, 2021, will be able to access the expanded benefits.
The Province will cover the total liability cost of $80.6 million for four fiscal years. Municipalities will not incur additional liability costs until 2025-26.
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