Government Services
Forestry, Agriculture and Lands
November 5, 2026
Proposed Amendments Would Strengthen Workers’ Compensation Coverage for Wildland and Volunteer Firefighters
The Provincial Government is proposing amendments to the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act, 2022 that would expand presumptive workers’ compensation coverage for wildland and volunteer firefighters and remove the age restriction for presumptive coverage for colon cancer. Bill 32 advanced to second reading today in the House of Assembly.
The proposed amendments would extend presumptive coverage to wildland and volunteer firefighters, recognizing the unique occupational risks associated with their work. Where the legislative requirements for a recognized occupational disease or condition are met, the condition would be presumed to be work-related for the purposes of a workers’ compensation claim. This would provide wildland and volunteer firefighters with a clearer and more direct path to workers’ compensation benefits, reducing the burden on workers and their families to establish the connection between their work and an occupational disease or condition. It would allow them to spend less time navigating the claims process and more time focused on treatment and recovery.
The amendments would also remove the age restriction for presumptive coverage for colon cancer. Firefighters can face occupational exposures throughout their careers, and removing the age restriction would eliminate an unnecessary barrier to presumptive coverage for colon cancer.
Wildland and volunteer firefighters work in difficult terrain, extreme heat and smoke, for long periods of time and often under unpredictable and rapidly changing conditions. While the immediate dangers associated with wildland firefighting are clear, the occupational risks do not necessarily end when a fire is extinguished.
The proposed changes would make the workers’ compensation system fairer and more responsive to the realities firefighters face. They also build on recent Provincial Government initiatives to strengthen the workers’ compensation system and better support workers who have experienced a workplace injury or illness.
Quotes
“Wildland and volunteer firefighters are there for Newfoundland and Labrador when we need them most. They work in extraordinarily challenging conditions to protect our forests, our homes and our communities, and we have a responsibility to ensure the systems intended to protect workers recognize the realities of the work they do. These amendments acknowledge the occupational risks firefighters face and would provide a clearer path to workers’ compensation support when they need it. This is about fairness and standing behind the people who stand up for our communities.”
Honourable Lloyd Parrott
Minister of Government Services
“Expanding presumptive coverage to wildland firefighters and removing the colorectal cancer age restriction for firefighters would make access to benefits more equitable. We support these proposed changes, which recognize the risks firefighters face and would strengthen the support available to eligible firefighters and their families.”
Elizabeth Lane
CEO, WorkplaceNL
-30-
Learn more
Provincial Government Strengthens Retirement Benefits for Workers with a Workplace Injury or Illness
Follow us on X @Gov_NL and @GS_GovNL
Like us on Facebook
Media contacts
Tina Newhook
Government Services
709-728-2837
[email protected]
Sara Rideout
Forestry, Agriculture and Lands
709-730-4607
[email protected]
Carla Riggs
WorkplaceNL
709-778-1590
[email protected]
2026 11 05 5:40 p.m.