Thomas Leblanc spent 35 years fighting wildfires in
Montana, Alberta, British Columbia and his home province of Ontario, but
when he developed a cancer linked to firefighting, he was repeatedly
denied workplace coverage ...
... In 2009,
Leblanc found a lump in his neck and was diagnosed with
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, one of more than a dozen cancers considered a
presumptive work-related illness in most parts of Canada for structural
firefighters. That means the illness is automatically accepted as likely
being caused by occupational exposure — making it easier to access
workplace compensation and supports.
Leblanc applied to Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) for compensation but was rejected.
In
all but four jurisdictions in Canada, wildland firefighters are
excluded in legislation from the presumptions granted to structural
firefighters, who respond to fires inside buildings, fire alarms,
chemical spills and accidents ...
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