McGuinty Government Recognizing Commitment To Service And Hazardous Work

Ontario has introduced legislation that would, if passed, allow mandatory retirement at age 60 for the province's salaried firefighters.
 
Recognizing the unique physical and hazardous work firefighters do to keep communities safe, the proposed changes to the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 2011 would standardize the retirement age across the province.
 
Most municipalities already include a mandatory retirement age for firefighters in their collective agreement. The proposed legislation would, if passed, provide other municipalities two years to negotiate a new retirement provision.
 
The changes would only apply to salaried firefighters who respond to emergency calls.
A motion calling on the government to allow mandatory retirement of firefighters at age 60 was unanimously passed in the Legislature on March 10, 2011.
 
QUOTES
"The salaried firefighters who keep our families and homes safe do so with great bravery and dedication, and deserve our utmost respect. I am pleased to introduce this legislation that recognizes their years of selfless service and the hazardous nature of the work."
– Charles Sousa
Minister of Labour
 
"We rely on our firefighters to keep Ontario's families safe, and now we are acting to recognize their health and safety needs."
– Jim Bradley
Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services
 
QUICK FACTS

• The average retirement age for a professional firefighter in the province of Ontario is 57.
• If passed, the proposed legislation would also allow firefighters who believe their local association is not representing them fairly, to take their complaints to the Ontario Labour Relations Board - as is the practice with other unions.
• Human Rights Tribunals have generally upheld mandatory retirement for firefighters, based on the nature of the work firefighters do.

CONTACTS

• Matt Blajer, Communications Branch, 416-326-7405
• Greg Dennis, Labour Minister’s Office, 416-326-7710
• Joe Kim, Community Safety Minister’s Office, 416-325-8282
• Greg Flood, Community Safety Communications Branch, 416-325-0432

Ministry of Labour
ontario.ca/labour