Every day, firefighters across the country risk their lives to keep our communities safe. While they are protecting us, their work exposes them to fire, smoke and toxic chemicals, placing them at significantly higher risk of developing cancer. Cancer remains the leading cause of job-related deaths for firefighters in Canada.
During Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, we recognize our everyday heroes and reaffirm the Government of Canada's commitment to improving their access to cancer prevention, early detection and treatment.
In 2024, we launched the National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting to guide our efforts to raise awareness of and improve access to care and health outcomes for firefighters. Over the past year, we have engaged with provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous partners, and firefighters to inform next steps.
Over the next four years, the framework will assist in developing diagnostic guidelines for early identification of cancers associated with firefighting, raising awareness and fostering collaboration within the firefighter sector, and advancing the Canadian Standards for Wildland Firefighters. We will continue to engage with our partners and stakeholders through the recently launched National Advisory Group on Cancers Linked to Firefighting to share outcomes and align efforts. This includes important work with Statistics Canada as they develop a Firefighter Cancer Registry to track health outcomes across firefighter populations.
We are proud of the collaborative progress made to date and remain focused to better protect those who protect us. This month, let's all take time to thank and honour all firefighters for their dedication, bravery and sacrifice.
The Honourable Marjorie Michel, P.C., M.P.
