Firefighter Disease

              The B-C government has tabled legislation to extend occupational disease and mental-health benefits to more people who work around fires. The legislation would expand presumptions that cancer, heart disease and mental health issues are caused by the nature of their work to three new groups — firefighters who have battled wildfires, fire investigators and fire crews working for Indigenous groups. Labour Minister Harry Bains says the amendments to the Workers Compensation Act will make it easier for those workers to get access to job-related health compensation. He says the changes are needed because firefighting is dangerous work that can have serious impacts on an individual’s physical and mental health.