Ladner / Sullivan NPA Debate on CKNW 980

Sullivan "There will always be Management / Union issues . . ."

Ladner "I think this is an example of another one of the broken relationships . . ."

On June 5th, CKNW radio conducted a debate between the NPA Candidates for Vancouver Mayor,  Peter Ladner and Sam Sullivan.  President Rod MacDonald from the Vancouver Fire Fighters' Union called in with a question to both candidates. 

Please click on the following link to hear the debate and the answer to President MacDonald's question. 

Forward the media player to 10:44.

CKNW June 5th NPA Debate

Province changes rules for firefighters that have cancer

Katie DeRosa
Times Colonist

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

The province will recognize primary site testicular cancer as an occupational disease for firefighters and will soon add primary site lung cancer in non-smokers to the list, Labour and Services Minister Olga Ilich announced yesterday at the B.C. Professional Firefighters Association biennial convention.

"The burden of proof is no longer on the firefighter," said Ilich to the crowd of association members at the Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria. "They and their family don't have to fight to have their illnesses recognized as an occupational disease."

Lung cancer will be added to the seven cancers already on the list following a legislative amendment to the Worker's Compensation Act, said Ilich. Once that happens, firefighters will be able to receive compensation for lung cancer retroactive to May 27.

Al Leier, the association's president, called it a success for firefighters struggling to pay medical bills for diseases not covered under the act.

"This is a tremendous addition for our members," said Leier.

The province first recognized certain types of cancer as work-related diseases in 2005 and the association has since been lobbying the government to add testicular and lung cancer. Leier said the association will continue to lobby the government to add more types of cancer to the list.

"Firefighters are one of the most studied groups in the world in terms of what toxins go into our bodies and I think the list will continue to grow."

The cancers already recognized are primary site brain cancer, primary site bladder cancer, primary site kidney cancer, primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, primary site ureter cancer, primary leukemia and primary site colorectal cancer.;

Rod MacDonald, the association's executive vice president and president of the Vancouver Fire Fighters union, lost a fellow firefighter, Robert Hall, last year to colorectal cancer. Visiting his friend in hospital, MacDonald said because Hall was covered, he was able to get the best care available and die knowing that his family will be well taken care of. MacDonald, a 29-year veteran firefighter, said he is thrilled that comfort can now be extended to those suffering from testicular cancer and lung cancer.

"It doesn't ease the pain but it does ease the burden."

Testicular cancer a hazard for firefighters - Read Vancouver Sun Article

IAFF Celebrates their 90th Anniversary!

Local 18 Member George J. Richardson of Vancouver, British Columbia, was a founding delegate of the IAFF in 1918 and would serve as General Secretary-Treasurer for 36 years.

Watch his story.

View the IAFF History Website

Vancouver donates fire trucks to
El Salvador

UPDATE - The trucks have arrived in El Salvador!

Five of our Vancouver Fire Fighters have just returned from El Salvador after a very successful (voluntary) trip in which they trained 32 members of the National Service of El Salvador over a period of 10 days.  The training focused on three main areas; Auto-Extrication, High-Angle Rescue and Apparatus Familiarization. 

We were asked many times to thank all the fire fighters of Vancouver for their support, so in their own words "Muchas Gracias Hermanos" (Thank you very much Brothers).

We also thank the National Service of El Salvador for their overwhelming hospitality!

View the PROJECT UPDATE NEWSLETTER with photos taken in El Salvador!

READ ENGINE FOR EL SALVADOR REPORT