The Niagara Centre MPP has legislation to improved cancer coverage for firefighters
Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch has tabled a bill to change Workplace Safety and Insurance Board regulations.
The bill looks to guarantee more cancer coverage for firefighters.
This comes after the death of Captain Craig Bowman.
He died of cancer last month after working as a firefighter in Welland for 23 years.
Currently, the WSIB requires at least 25 years of service for claims.
"Mr. Bowman was a hero," said Burch. "He spent nearly a quarter of a century putting his life on the line for the rest of us every time he reported for duty. He fought more than 200 fires. It’s time for his community to honour his memory. This is not a partisan issue and should not be a political issue. Nothing would make me happier than for the government to work with me to pass legislation and solve this problem once and for all."
The bill recommends lowering the minimum years of service to 20, which is the same as in British Columbia.
"The red tape for firefighters battling cancer results in a process that can take years to gain an approval (for WSIB)" says Lexi Bowman, who is the daughter of Captain Craig Bowman. "This has stolen so much from my family. If my dad had been approved while he was alive, he would have had access to better care....he may have even still been here today."
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