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Each year CAFC holds a Government Relations Week through which Fire Chiefs meet with Members of Parliament and other elected or senior officials. During this week we discuss key issues in the fire service, our prebudget asks, and engage in relationship building and education on Parliament Hill.

 

This year 38 fire chiefs from across the country came to Ottawa to share the results of the Great Canadian Fire Census, the related issues and the proposed solutions.

 

You can read about the Census here

You can read our Government Relations Leave-behind here

You can find photographs here

You can access media coverage of the event here

 

Among the census highlights:

• Diminishing Numbers: In 2016, there were a reported 156,000 firefighters; in 2022 this number fell to 126,000 (of this, 90,000 are volunteers)
• Increasing Call Volumes: Of the 2 million calls responded to over a 12-month period: 50% were for medical emergency, 30% for all-hazard response, 10% for climate emergencies, and only 10% for fire suppression
• Aging Equipment and Rising Costs: 41% of Canada’s fire departments have had to defer training and new equipment for more than two years, due to fiscal pressures
• High Reliance on Volunteers: Of the $5.6B in fire department expenditures, only 15% is attributed to the more than 2,000 fire departments that are volunteer (located mainly in rural areas)
• Risks of Death and Injury: Over a 12-month period, 629 fire departments reported: 2 active line of duty deaths, 56 deaths due to illness associated with the profession, 2 suicides. In addition, there were also 600 profession-related injuries

Calls to Action:

 

The CAFC will impress upon the Federal Government recommendations in three key areas:

• Protecting and retaining Canada’s supply of firefighters and response capacity,
• Reducing community risk and improving the government’s ability to address these problems.
• Short and long-term solutions are required to address these challenges and keep communities safe.

 

Among their calls for action:

• Reinstate the Joint Emergency Preparedness Program’s to buy 600 new fire trucks, refurbish 800 fire stations (required to house the trucks and provide separate quarters for female fire fighters) and modernize 600 communication systems
• Increase the volunteer firefighter tax credit from $3K to $10K to help retain volunteer firefighters that are so integral to rural communities
• Support Bill C-224 to develop a firefighter cancer framework and maintain federal commitments to first responder mental health. 
• Consider formalizing the role of fire departments in the health system 
• Ensure supply of affordable housing is sprinklered; ban the sale and use of consumer fireworks
• Ensure that consideration is given to the recommendations of the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council
• Advance the Public Safety Broadband Network

 

Read related media and videos here:

Watch Member of Parliament Sherry Romanado's SO31

recognizing CAFC for support of Bill C-224 Firefighter Cancer Framework

In Monday's speech on Fall Economic Statement Implementation, MP Gord Johns cites

the CAFC op-ed in The Hill Times re: Importance of Attracting and Retaining Volunteer Firefighters

 

 

 

The Hill Times: Powerful but Precarious: cracks in the foundation
of fire and emergency services in Canada
Read the article here

 

 

Watch Member of Parliament Gord Johns table

Bill to Increase Volunteer Firefighter and Search and Rescue Tax Credit

 

 

CAFC speaks at House of Commons

Standing Committee on Health Meeting - December 13, 2022

 

 

CTV News: Canadian firefighters call for more support amid shortage
Read the article here