Expanded firefighter workplace coverage among Manitoba’s new bill list

In a rare show of unity, a Progressive Conservative labour minister was joined Friday by the leaders of the Manitoba Federation of Labour and Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union to mark the introduction of a bill to assist wildland firefighters whose job made them sick.

Labour Minister Jon Reyes introduced Bill 25 (Workers Compensation Amendment Act — Wildfire Fighters). It says specific cancers and heart injuries presumed to be caused by firefighting covered by the Workers Compensation Act will now include those who battle wildfires.

Like their urban counterparts, they are exposed to varying levels of smoke with the potential for exposure to carcinogens, Reyes told reporters outside the chamber.

Wildland firefighters are also exposed to similar stresses of heavy muscular work, extreme temperatures, sympathetic nervous system activation and exposure to smoke, and are therefore at a similar risk for suffering a heart injury and should receive the same treatment as other firefighters in Manitoba, the minister said, flanked by MFL president Kevin Rebeck and MGEU president Kyle Ross.

“We know that the people who fight fires do heroic work,” Rebeck said. “I want to thank our minister of labour for bringing this change forward. It provides much needed help for workers who go above and beyond for all of us and help protect people and property from forest fires.”

The bill is one of more than a dozen pieces of legislation introduced by the government since MLAs returned to the house March 1, including:

— Bill 15 (Court of King’s Bench Amendment Act) to establish the salary for a person who resigns as the senior master but continues to act as a master;

— Bill 16 (Domestic Violence and Stalking Amendment Act) so a protection order may include provisions that enable the parties to the order to attend a family arbitration, family dispute resolution activities and supervised child visitations and transfers;

— Bill 18 (Legislative Security Amendment Act) to add more of Memorial Park to the legislative precinct, to include the area bounded by Broadway, Kennedy Street, Assiniboine Avenue and Osborne Street North, as well as Broadway, Osborne Street North, York Avenue and Memorial Boulevard. In the legislative precinct, it is illegal to camp out or park vehicles on the grounds, set up generators, tents or other shelters that make it possible to stay “in the legislative precinct for an extended period,” regulations state;

— Bill 19 (Provincial Offences Amendment Act) standardizes rules respecting when a ticket or an information may be amended or quashed;

— Bill 20 (Conflict of Interest — Members and Ministers — Amendment Act) amendments were requested by the ethics commissioner to clarify requirements of the new legislation that takes effect after the 2023 election. They include a requirement information about gifts and personal benefits be made available to the public by posting it on the commissioner’s website;

— Bill 22 (Emergency Measures Amendment Act ) changes the name of the Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization to the Manitoba Emergency Management Organization, and requires every government department to prepare a continuity plan for responding to events that affect its ability to deliver services. It must also prepare an emergency management program, if directed to do so by the minister;

— Bill 23 (Vulnerable Persons Living with a Disability Amendment Act) renames it the Adults Living with an Intellectual Disability Act. The definition of “abuse” is redefined as conduct that constitutes physical, emotional, psychological, sexual or property abuse. The definition of “neglect” is replaced to include acts or omissions that cause physical or psychological harm, even if the harm is not serious;

— Bill 24 (Wildfires Amendment Act) expands inspection and enforcement powers and the maximum fines that may be imposed are increased. The requirements that apply when carrying on work within a burning permit area are now established by regulation. A work permit is no longer required.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca