A local Fire Chief is applauding changes made by the province to make it easier for firefighters diagnosed with thyroid and pancreatic cancers to get workplace compensation.
Labour Minister Monte McNaughton says those cancers have now been added to the list of those that were already presumed to be work-related.
This will ensure that firefighters get faster access to compensation and other benefits, which McNaughton says is key to supporting their ongoing recovery.
Quinte West Fire Chief John Whalen was supportive of the change, calling it great news for both Career and Volunteer Firefighters.
He says cancers have been proven to be in many cases caused by exposure to certain fires, and that many buildings now contain more harmful chemicals than before.
McNaughton says the changes are also retroactive to 1960 in order to cover both active and retired firefighters.