A re-elected BC NDP government would work with BC Cancer and firefighters to review presumptive illness coverage every three years, building on this year’s expansion of cancer coverage. This will continue and deepen the commitments made in 2024 to ensure that firefighters, who face workplace hazards while keeping communities safe, are given the coverage that they are owed for their service.
The regular reviews would examine emerging scientific evidence, additional occupational diseases recognized in other jurisdictions and whether B.C.’s coverage and eligibility requirements should change. Working with BC Cancer, WorkSafeBC, firefighters and other medical experts, the government would assess the evidence and bring forward regulatory changes where warranted.
In March, B.C. added eight cancers to its presumptive coverage list, bringing the total to 26 — the most comprehensive presumptive cancer coverage for firefighters in Canada.
“Our firefighting heroes face serious health risks in the course of protecting their communities. Working with firefighters, we are recognizing those risks by adding eight cancers to presumptive coverage this year. We are also reviewing coverage every three years with BC Cancer to ensure new scientific evidence informs our decisions and firefighters continue to have the protections they deserve,” said BC NDP leader David Eby on Wednesday.
Presumptive coverage means that when a firefighter develops a recognized illness and meets the eligibility requirements, WorkSafeBC presumes the illness is work-related unless evidence establishes otherwise. This reduces the burden of proving that an illness resulted from the job.
Firefighters represent just 0.5 per cent of B.C.’s workforce but accounted for 35 per cent of WorkSafeBC’s accepted cancer claims between 2010 and 2025.
“As a firefighter and union representative, I’ve seen the impact that occupational illness can have on firefighters and their families. I’ve also worked with researchers studying firefighter cancer risks and early detection. Disease science continues to develop, and we need a regular process to make sure our protections keep up. Committing to a review every three years means we won’t have to wait for firefighters to push for another review when new evidence emerges,” said Todd Schierling, BC NDP candidate for Delta North and President of the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Association.
The new three-year review process would strengthen the review required under B.C.’s Firefighters’ Health Act, which calls for an assessment of presumptive coverage by April 2027 but does not establish a recurring schedule for future reviews.
Under the proposed process, the Ministry of Labour would work with BC Cancer, WorkSafeBC, the Ministry of Health, other medical and scientific experts, and firefighter organizations, including the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Association, to assess new evidence and recommend future changes to presumptive coverage.
The BC NDP also welcomes Manitoba’s recent announcement that it intends to expand presumptive workers’ compensation coverage for firefighters. Manitoba has not yet identified the additional illnesses it proposes to cover.
