The Ontario government is investing over $746,000 through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) Training Stream to help the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association (OPFFA) deliver critical survival training to firefighters across the province. This investment will help ensure Ontario's frontline heroes are equipped with the skills and tools they need to keep communities, and themselves, safe.
"Our government will always stand shoulder to shoulder with the brave men and women who have our backs when we need it the most," said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. "By investing in advanced survival training, we're protecting our firefighting heroes by providing them the skills they need to stay safe in the most dangerous scenarios."
The Fire Ground Survival Train-the-Trainer program, developed by the International Association of Fire Fighters, is the most comprehensive survival and MAYDAY prevention training available in the fire service. Training, supported by this SDF investment, will take place in Toronto in October 2025 and in North Bay in Winter 2026. Leveraging a "train the trainer" model, participants will be certified to take the knowledge back to their colleagues, maximizing the training impact Ontario-wide.
The SDF funding will also be used to purchase a tow vehicle and a second training trailer dedicated to northern fire services, ensuring firefighters in remote and rural communities can access training.
Since its launch in 2021, Ontario has invested $1.5 billion through the SDF Training Stream and Capital Stream to help train more than one million workers for in-demand careers and good-paying jobs. As announced in the 2025 Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario, the government is investing $1 billion more through the Skills Development Fund over the next three years, bringing the total to $2.5 billion, to support key industrial sectors and help train even more workers.
Quick Facts
- Firefighters are more likely than average to experience health problems because of hazardous occupational exposures. In Canada, there are 50 to 60 firefighter fatalities of cancer every year and half of those are from Ontario.
- Ontario's Working for Workers acts have improved cancer coverage for firefighters, investigators and volunteers by removing the age limit for colorectal cancer claims and reducing the required service time for kidney cancer coverage from 20 to 10 years the shortest in Canada.
- There are over 33,000 firefighters in Ontario, including over 12,500 full-time firefighters, about 20,000 volunteer firefighters and almost 400 part-time firefighters.
- On July 29, the Ontario government launched a new call for project proposals for the SDF Training Stream totaling $260 million. Interested organizations can visit the SDF Training Stream website and have until October 1st to apply.
- The SDF Training Stream rounds 1 to 5 are supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. SDF Training Round 6 is supported exclusively by the Government of Ontario.
Quotes
"The Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association is proud to stand with Minister Piccini and the Ontario government in delivering this vital Skills Development Fund project. The Fire Ground Survival program equips the men and women who protect our province with the lifesaving training they need to keep communities safe. It is critical that firefighters across our province have continued access to the tools, training and equipment necessary to protect our communities."
- Greg Horton, President of the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association (OPFFA)
"Every day, Ontario's firefighters put their lives on the line to protect our people, homes and communities. Our government is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with them, ensuring they have the training, resources and support they need to make it home safely while continuing their life-saving work of protecting Ontario."
- Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General of Ontario
"Protecting Ontario means ensuring our emergency responders have the training and equipment they need to keep our province safe, practiced and prepared. Our government's investment in firefighting heroes will not only strengthen Ontario's emergency response capabilities, but it will also ensure communities are better prepared to respond to local emergencies."
- Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response
"Our firefighters put their lives on the line every day to protect families across Ontario. By investing in advanced survival training through the Skills Development Fund, our government is equipping these brave men and women with the tools they need to stay safe while safeguarding our communities."
- Dawn Gallagher Murphy, Member of Provincial Parliament for Newmarket-Aurora
"Our government is proud to invest in Ontario's firefighters through the Skills Development Fund to ensure they have access to the crucial training they need. This $746,000 investment will equip firefighters with the skills and tools to stay safe in the line of duty, while continuing to protect the communities they serve across Ontario."
- Michael Parsa, Member of Provincial Parliament for Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill
"Firefighters put their lives on the line every single day to protect our families and communities. This investment is about making sure they return home safely to their own loved ones. By expanding access to advanced survival training, we are equipping firefighters across Ontario, including those in smaller and northern communities, with the tools they need to face the toughest situations. Our government is proud to stand with Ontario's firefighting heroes and invest in their safety and well-being."
- Mohamed Firin, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
"I want to thank the Ontario Government for investing in Aurora through the Skills Development Fund. This support helps firefighters here in Aurora and across Ontario build the advanced skills they need to stay safe and protect our communities. It's an investment in their careers, in our community's safety and in a stronger, more competitive Ontario."
- Tom Mrakas, Mayor of Aurora
"This investment is critical to our firefighters so they can protect themselves and our loved ones in the most challenging situations. As a former volunteer firefighter of 21 years, I know firsthand the importance of ensuring our brave men and women have the tools and training they need to return home safely to their families. Having witnessed the training at FireCon last week, I'm encouraged to see this investment not only enhancing firefighter training, but also expanding the facilities and resources needed to better support our rural fire services and train the next generation of firefighters."
- Kevin Holland, Member of Provincial Parliament for Thunder Bay-Atikokan
"Firefighters are more than heroes that save us on the worst days, they are often some of the most dedicated supporters and volunteers within our communities. I am grateful that this government has so strongly expressed our support for them. From expanding advanced training to increasing our supports for firefighter health, we will always stand up for, stand with and express our immense appreciation for our local heroes."
- Ric Bresee, Member of Provincial Parliament for Hastings-Lennox & Addington
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