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WCB coverage expanded for volunteer firefighters in the province

The Government of Saskatchewan has announced the province’s 6,500 volunteer firefighters will have easier access to Workers’ Compensation Board benefits.
News-Optimist file photo
News-Optimist file photo

The Government of Saskatchewan has announced the province’s 6,500 volunteer firefighters will have easier access to Workers’ Compensation Board benefits. 

Volunteer firefighters will have access to the same presumptive coverage as professional firefighters. 

Expanded presumptive coverage was first introduced for professional firefighters through an amendment to the legislation introduced this past December, which includes six additional cancers – prostate, skin, breast, cervical and ovarian cancer as well as multiple myeloma.

“We thank firefighters for the work they do every day to keep us safe,” Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Don Morgan said. “We are extending presumptive coverage to volunteer firefighters to make it easier for them to access the supports they need.”

These changes, as part of Bill 165, the Workers’ Compensation Amendment Act, will come into force on proclamation.

To apply for Workers’ Compensation, applicants will need to provide a diagnosis and other required information from a medical professional to support their claim.