OPSEU/SEFPO in the news round up: forest firefighters sound the alarm over the Ford government’s negligence

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On Monday, February 26, OPSEU/SEFPO forest firefighter and Local 703 VP Noah Freedman and OPSEU/SEFPO President JP Hornick spoke at a press conference at Queen’s Park calling for immediate government action to fix the health and safety crisis for Ontario’s forest firefighters before the imminent start of the 2024 wildfire season.

They were joined by NDP MPPs Lise Vaugeois, Guy Bourgouin, Sol Mamakwa and Jamie West. In addition to former forest firefighter and cancer survivor Simon Chateauvert. Together, they called out the Ford government’s negligence in regards to the health and safety of forest firefighters.

The press conference received a lot of media attention both provincially and regionally. You can read the coverage here:

CTV News Northern Ontario: Union representing forest firefighters sounding alarm over staffing shortage ahead of fire season

CBC: Ontario says it’s working on program addressing forest firefighter smoke exposure fears, but union has doubts

Timmins Press: Province announces biomass investment as firefighters issue safety warning; Wildland firefighters not prepared for next season, they say

Timmins Today: Forest firefighters worry Ontario not taking smoke exposure risks seriously

My Kaphearst Now: Bourgouin and northern MPPs urge province to help forest firefighters

Kenora Online: Forest firefighters still wait for government action

Soo Today: Union sounds alarm over forest firefighter staffing ‘crisis’

InSauga: Forest firefighters face huge health risks and want the Ford government to do more

Occupational Health and Safety Canada: Forest firefighters in Ontario call out Ford government’s ‘complete disregard’ for their health and safety

L’Express: Les pompiers de forêt de l’Ontario inquiets pour leur santé

Village Report: ‘It’s scary’: Crew leader demands changes to wildland fire program

Forest fire workers have been fighting for recognition, appropriate PPE and workers’ compensation for decades. In recent months, they’ve been campaigning, and garnering significant public support, to fix the crisis in Ontario’s Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES). They even met with Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, Graydon Smith, to discuss their demands but unfortunately, he, like the rest of the Ford government, has chosen to ignore them and shut them out.

Join their fight and send message to your representatives, calling on them to protect forest firefighters now, before the 2024 wildfire season begins: https://opseu.org/protect-forest-firefighters/?source=wp