# J32 Workers’ Compensation and Firefighter Presumptions

> Fire Service Safety Management System, version 0.3.3 (2026-10-25). The Human Factor. Document FSSMS-JUR-32.
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> Canonical: https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions
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> General information only, not legal, medical or other professional advice. Verify every requirement against the current official text of the law, standards and manufacturer instructions that apply to you. Obtain your own legal review and consult your joint health and safety committee before adopting anything. You adopt, adapt, implement and rely on this material entirely at your own risk and on your own responsibility. Full terms: Terms of Use, thehumanfactor.ca.

> **Warning: Law changes; verify before you rely on this page**
>
> This page summarizes what each jurisdiction’s law requires on this topic as of 2026-10-23. It is general information, not legal advice. Presumption lists change often; check the official text for your jurisdiction before you adopt or rely on anything here, and before you advise a member about a claim. See [00a Copyright, Licence and Legal Notices](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/copyright-licence-and-legal-notices).

## What this topic covers

Each province and territory has a workers’ compensation statute and board, and each has written presumptions for firefighters into it: lists of cancers presumed to be caused by firefighting after a minimum number of years of service, a heart presumption tied to a short window after an emergency response, and a presumption for post-traumatic stress disorder or other mental injury. This page sets out each jurisdiction’s lists, minimums, windows and conditions, who counts as a firefighter (career, part-time, volunteer, wildland, inspector), how volunteers are covered, and the changes in force or pending. It also notes the board’s role for contractors and for diseases with no presumption, such as hearing loss. Return to work and accommodation are in [J33 Return to Work, Accommodation and Hours of Work](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j33-return-to-work-accommodation-and-hours-of-work).

## Why it matters to a fire department

A presumption shifts the burden: once the conditions are met, the board must accept the claim unless the contrary is shown. But every condition is a fact the department has to be able to prove years later: how long the member served, that they were regularly exposed at fire scenes, when they were dispatched, whether a volunteer attended enough calls and training. Departments without attendance, exposure and training records have watched members lose presumptions they were entitled to. The common misunderstandings are that the presumption is automatic (it is not; the records carry it), that volunteers are covered the same way as career members (often they are, but sometimes only with a participation test or a municipal application), that a heart attack after a training session is covered (only Ontario’s presumption names training), and that wildland fires count toward the cancer minimums (several jurisdictions exclude forest fire scenes).

## What every department must cover, wherever it is

1.  Know your compensation statute and board, which of your members are covered (career, part-time, paid-on-call, volunteer, wildland crews, inspectors, investigators) and who is the employer of record for volunteers (see your jurisdiction below and [J11 Volunteer Firefighters](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j11-volunteer-firefighters)).
2.  Keep, for every member, cumulative years of service as a firefighter, including service with other departments; most cancer minimums are cumulative and some boards count service elsewhere (see your jurisdiction below).
3.  Keep the evidence of exposure each presumption requires: incident attendance by member, role on scene (interior, overhaul, exterior), exposure reports for smoke and products of combustion, and decontamination records. Several jurisdictions exclude forest or wildland fire scenes, so record which fires were structural and which were wildland ([J09 Records Retention](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j09-records-retention)).
4.  For heart presumptions, record dispatch, arrival and clear times for every member, and live-fire training times where your jurisdiction counts training. Report a cardiac event the same day and keep the rehabilitation and medical monitoring record (see your jurisdiction below).
5.  For volunteers, keep per-member, per-year attendance at calls and training, and any confirmation form the board requires. In Nova Scotia this is a condition of the presumption itself (see your jurisdiction below).
6.  Tell members the conditions they control, such as the non-smoking rules for lung cancer and the claim time limits, without collecting their personal health information ([J10 Privacy and Health Information](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j10-privacy-and-health-information)).
7.  Know who is covered by the PTSD or mental injury presumption, the diagnosis required and any time limit after leaving the service, and support claims with the traumatic exposure record ([J28 Psychological Health and Safety](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j28-psychological-health-and-safety)).
8.  File the employer’s report of injury or disease within the board’s deadline ([J08 Incident Reporting and Investigation](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j08-incident-reporting-and-investigation)).
9.  Check that contractors working for the department are registered with the board and in good standing (a clearance) before work starts and before final payment; in some jurisdictions the department is liable for an unpaid contractor’s premiums (see your jurisdiction below).
10. For diseases with no presumption, such as noise-induced hearing loss or a cancer not on the list, the claim turns on evidence: keep audiometry, noise and exposure records ([J23 Noise and Hearing Conservation](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j23-noise-and-hearing-conservation), [J21 WHMIS, Hazardous Materials and Asbestos](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j21-whmis-hazardous-materials-and-asbestos)).
11. Review the lists every year: several changed in 2024 to 2026 and more changes are pending.

## At a glance

| Jurisdiction | Cancers (count; minimum years) | Heart presumption | PTSD or mental injury presumption | Volunteers | Recent or pending change | Verified |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| British Columbia | 26; 5-20 | Heart disease and heart injury; no time window | Any trauma-related mental disorder, firefighters | Workers by definition | 8 cancers added 2026-03-16 | Yes |
| Alberta | 20; 5-25 | Heart attack within 24 h of dispatch or attendance | PTSD and traumatic psychological injury, first responders | Covered by board order; in the presumptions | 4 cancers added and colorectal cut to 15 years (2023) | Yes |
| Saskatchewan | 22; 5-25 | Heart injury within 24 h of attendance | Psychological injury, all workers | Municipal brigade members are workers | Wildland firefighters added 2025-08-01 | Yes |
| Manitoba | 19; 5-25 | Heart injury within 24 h of attendance | PTSD, all workers | Approved brigade members; municipality is deemed employer | Wildfire firefighters added | Yes |
| Ontario | 19; 10-20 | Heart injury within 24 h of a fire scene or live-fire training | PTSD, first responders incl. volunteers | Approved brigade members; municipality is deemed employer | Kidney and colorectal moved into the Act 2025-07-01; regulation shows the change as pending | Yes |
| Quebec | 15; 0-20 | None | PTSD, all workers with repeated or extreme exposure | Only if a statement is filed; cancer list limited to employed operational firefighters | List expanded to 15 (O.C. 532-2025) | Yes |
| New Brunswick | 10; 5-25 | Heart attack within 24 h of an emergency scene | PTSD, emergency response workers incl. volunteers | Covered | Review of both Acts; no expansion yet | Partly |
| Nova Scotia | 19; 5-25 | Heart attack within 24 h of an emergency scene | PTSD, front-line and emergency response workers incl. volunteers | Covered; presumptions need 20 percent participation each year | 13 cancers added 2022-07-01 | Partly |
| Prince Edward Island | 19; 5-25 | Heart attack, cardiac arrest or arrhythmia within 24 h of a call | Trauma- and stressor-related disorders, all workers | Covered; operating municipality is employer | 5 cancers added June 2025 | Yes |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 19; 5-25 | Heart injury within 24 h of a response | PTSD, all workers | Covered once the municipality applies and certifies members | None since 2022 | Yes |
| Yukon | 19; 5-25 | Cardiac arrest within 24 h, wildland included | PTSD, all workers | Brigade members are Government of Yukon workers | Wildland cancer coverage promised, not enacted | Partly |
| Northwest Territories | 14; 5-25 | Cardiac arrest within 24 h | None until 2027-01-01 | Deemed workers; territorial government is employer unless the municipality pays | From 2027-01-01: any prescribed cancer after 2 years, heart disease, PTSD | Yes |
| Nunavut | 14; 5-25 | Cardiac arrest within 24 h | None | Deemed workers; territorial government is employer unless the municipality pays | Benefit changes not yet in force | Yes |
| Federal | Province of employment | Province of employment | Province of employment | Not applicable | National cancer framework (not binding) | Partly |

**Cancer minimums side by side** (minimum years of service; “-” means not on the list; lung everywhere requires a non-smoking condition; the Federal column is omitted because federal employees take their province’s list):

| Cancer | BC | AB | SK | MB | ON | QC | NB | NS | PE | NL | YT | NT | NU |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| Leukemia | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 (3 types) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Brain | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Breast | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | \- | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Testicular | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 20 |
| Ovarian | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | \- | \- | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | \- | \- |
| Cervical | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | \- | \- | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | \- | \- |
| Pancreatic | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | \- | \- | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | \- | \- |
| Thyroid | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | \- | \- | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | \- | \- |
| Skin | 10 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 15 (melanoma) | \- | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Bladder | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Ureter | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | \- | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Lung | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Prostate | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | \- | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Multiple myeloma | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | \- | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Penile | 15 | \- | 15 | 15 | 15 | \- | \- | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | \- | \- |
| Colorectal | 10 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 20 (by age 61) | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Kidney | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Esophageal | 15 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Mesothelioma | 15 | 15 | 15 | \- | \- | 0 (non-pulmonary); 15 (pulmonary) | \- | \- | \- | \- | \- | \- | \- |
| Soft tissue sarcoma | 15 | 15 | 15 | \- | \- | \- | \- | \- | \- | \- | \- | \- | \- |
| Laryngeal | 15 | \- | 15 | \- | \- | 15 | \- | \- | \- | \- | \- | \- | \- |
| Tracheal, bronchial, nasal, pharyngeal | 15 each | \- | \- | \- | \- | \- | \- | \- | \- | \- | \- | \- | \- |
| **Total** | **26** | **20** | **22** | **19** | **19** | **15** | **10** | **19** | **19** | **19** | **19** | **14** | **14** |

## British Columbia

**Law.** Workers Compensation Act, ss. 1, 135, 139 and 140 [(Workers Compensation Act \[BC\], 2019)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workers-compensation-act-bc); Firefighters’ Occupational Disease Regulation, ss. 2 to 4 [(Firefighters’ Occupational Disease Regulation \[BC\], 2026)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-firefighters-occupational-disease-regulation-bc). Board: WorkSafeBC.

**What must be covered.**

- **Board administration.** WorkSafeBC insures and adjudicates. Check that contractors are registered and in good standing before work and before payment, and support non-presumptive claims such as hearing loss with audiometry and noise records.
- **Cancers.** 26 primary-site cancers: lung in the Act (s. 140(1)(a)) and 25 prescribed by regulation, each with a minimum cumulative period as a firefighter [(Firefighters’ Occupational Disease Regulation \[BC\], 2026, ss. 2-3)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-firefighters-occupational-disease-regulation-bc):

| Cancer                 | Years | Cancer              | Years |
|:-----------------------|:------|:--------------------|:------|
| Primary leukemia       | 5     | Breast              | 10    |
| Brain                  | 10    | Ovarian             | 10    |
| Colorectal             | 10    | Cervical            | 10    |
| Testicular             | 10    | Pancreatic          | 10    |
| Thyroid                | 10    | Skin                | 10    |
| Bladder                | 15    | Lung                | 15    |
| Ureter                 | 15    | Esophageal          | 15    |
| Prostate               | 15    | Multiple myeloma    | 15    |
| Penile                 | 15    | Laryngeal           | 15    |
| Mesothelioma           | 15    | Soft tissue sarcoma | 15    |
| Tracheal               | 15    | Bronchial           | 15    |
| Nose                   | 15    | Pharynx             | 15    |
| Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma | 20    | Kidney              | 20    |

- **Conditions.** The worker served the minimum cumulative period, was “regularly exposed to the hazards of a fire scene” throughout it, and was first disabled on or after the date the disease was added (s. 140(2)). For lung cancer the worker also smoked fewer than 365 cigarettes, cigars and pipes in a lifetime or was a non-smoker for the prescribed period before disablement (s. 140(3); [Firefighters’ Occupational Disease Regulation \[BC\], 2026, s. 4](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-firefighters-occupational-disease-regulation-bc)).
- **Heart.** Heart disease (including disease of the pericardium or coronary arteries) and heart injury (“heart attack, cardiac arrest or arrhythmia”) are presumed work-related for a worker employed as a firefighter on or immediately before disablement and regularly exposed to fire-scene hazards throughout their employment, first disabled on or after 2014-05-29 (s. 139). There is **no 24-hour window and no minimum service**.
- **Mental disorder.** For eligible occupations, which include firefighter, a mental disorder recognized in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual as one that may arise from a traumatic event is presumed to be a reaction to the traumatic events at work unless the contrary is proved (s. 135(2), (5)). Diagnosis is by a psychiatrist or psychologist (s. 135(1)(b)). Any worker may also claim for a disorder predominantly caused by significant work-related stressors, “including bullying or harassment”, but not one caused by the employer’s employment decisions (s. 135(1)(a)(ii), (c)).
- **Volunteers.** Volunteer and paid-on-call firefighters are workers, and society fire brigades must register with WorkSafeBC and pay premiums ([Workers Compensation Act \[BC\], 2019, s. 1](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workers-compensation-act-bc); WorkSafeBC, n.d.-e).

**Fire-service nuance.**

- BC has the longest list in Canada. Skin, laryngeal, mesothelioma, soft tissue sarcoma, tracheal, bronchial, nose and pharynx cancers were added by BC Reg 37/2026, effective 2026-03-16.
- The heart presumption has no time window, unlike every other jurisdiction that has one, but it still needs proof of regular fire-scene exposure throughout employment.
- “Regularly exposed” is a question of fact; keep each member’s incident attendance for their whole career.

**Status.** Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (Act consolidated to 2026-10-13; Regulation to 2026-10-20). Contractor clearance not checked.

## Alberta

**Law.** Workers’ Compensation Act, ss. 14(3)(b), 24.1 and 24.2 [(Workers’ Compensation Act \[AB\], 2000)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workers-compensation-act-ab); Firefighters’ Primary Site Cancer Regulation, ss. 1 and 2 [(Firefighters’ Primary Site Cancer Regulation \[AB\], 2023)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-firefighters-primary-site-cancer-regulation-ab); Board policies 03-01 Part II Applications 6 and 9 and 06-01 Part II Application 3 [(Workers’ Compensation Board-Alberta, 2026)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workers-compensation-board-alberta-2026). Board: WCB-Alberta.

**What must be covered.**

- **Board administration.** WCB-Alberta insures and adjudicates; check contractors’ standing before work and payment.
- **Cancers.** 20 primary-site cancers, each with a minimum period of regular exposure to the hazards of a fire scene, “other than a forest-fire scene” (s. 24.1(2)-(3); [Firefighters’ Primary Site Cancer Regulation \[AB\], 2023, s. 2](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-firefighters-primary-site-cancer-regulation-ab)):

| Cancer                 | Years | Cancer       | Years |
|:-----------------------|:------|:-------------|:------|
| Leukemia               | 5     | Brain        | 10    |
| Cervical               | 10    | Ovarian      | 10    |
| Testicular             | 10    | Breast       | 10    |
| Pancreatic             | 10    | Thyroid      | 10    |
| Bladder                | 15    | Ureter       | 15    |
| Lung (non-smokers)     | 15    | Colorectal   | 15    |
| Prostate               | 15    | Skin         | 15    |
| Multiple myeloma       | 15    | Mesothelioma | 15    |
| Soft tissue sarcoma    | 15    | Kidney       | 20    |
| Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma | 20    | Esophageal   | 25    |

- **Who.** Full-time and part-time firefighters of a municipality or Metis settlement; “part-time firefighter” means a casual, volunteer or part-time member of its fire protection service (s. 24.1(1)(c)).
- **Lung.** Non-smoker means no tobacco use in the 10 years before diagnosis [(Firefighters’ Primary Site Cancer Regulation \[AB\], 2023, s. 1(b))](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-firefighters-primary-site-cancer-regulation-ab).
- **Heart.** A myocardial infarction “within 24 hours after being dispatched or attending at an emergency response, whichever is later” (s. 24.1(7)), for full-time and part-time firefighters, volunteers included.
- **PTSD and psychological injury.** PTSD diagnosed by a physician or psychologist, and psychological injury after a traumatic event at work, are presumed for first responders (firefighters, including part-time and volunteer, paramedics, peace officers and police officers), correctional officers and emergency dispatchers (s. 24.2). Chronic-onset psychological injury from accumulated or long-lasting work stressors or bullying and harassment can be compensable under board policy with a diagnosis and the policy’s criteria [(Workers’ Compensation Board-Alberta, 2026, Policy 03-01 Part II App. 6)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workers-compensation-board-alberta-2026).
- **Volunteers.** Covered by board order: appointed members of an organized fire brigade who must attend fires, drills and training, and people asked by the chief or a deputy to help at a fire (s. 14(3)(b); [Workers’ Compensation Board-Alberta, 2026, Policy 06-01 Part II App. 3](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workers-compensation-board-alberta-2026)). Earnings are based on the member’s regular employment.

**Fire-service nuance.**

- The 2023 regulation amendments added mesothelioma, pancreatic, soft tissue sarcoma and thyroid cancers and cut colorectal from 20 to 15 years, for claims from 2023-04-05; testicular was cut to 10 years from 2018-01-17 [(Workers’ Compensation Board-Alberta, 2026, Policy 03-01 Part II App. 9)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workers-compensation-board-alberta-2026).
- Forest-fire scenes do not count toward the cancer minimums, except for an exposure-period waiver for the 2016 Horse River wildfire (s. 24.1(3.1)). Record wildland interface work separately.
- The 24-hour heart window runs from dispatch or attendance, whichever is later; training is not named.

**Status.** Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (Act consolidated to 2025-12-18; Regulation to 2023-04-05; board policy manual downloaded 2026-10-23). Contractor clearance not checked.

## Saskatchewan

**Law.** The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013, ss. 2(1), 28, 28.1, 53 and 54 [(The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 \[SK\], 2013)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-the-workers-compensation-act-2013-sk); The Workers’ Compensation General Regulations, 1985, ss. 22.3 and 22.4 [(The Workers’ Compensation General Regulations, 1985 \[SK\], 2024)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-the-workers-compensation-general-regulations-1985-sk). Board: Workers’ Compensation Board of Saskatchewan.

**What must be covered.**

- **Board administration.** Check contractors’ standing with the board before work and payment; support non-presumptive claims with exposure and audiometry records.
- **Cancers.** 22 primary-site cancers plus the heart injury, for a worker who has been “a volunteer or full-time member of a fire department” for the prescribed period and “regularly exposed to the hazards of a fire scene” (s. 28(1)(b), (3)(a)); minimums in Regulations s. 22.3:

| Cancer                 | Years | Cancer             | Years |
|:-----------------------|:------|:-------------------|:------|
| Leukemia               | 5     | Brain              | 10    |
| Testicular             | 10    | Breast             | 10    |
| Cervical               | 10    | Ovarian            | 10    |
| Pancreatic             | 10    | Thyroid            | 10    |
| Bladder                | 15    | Ureter             | 15    |
| Colorectal             | 15    | Lung (non-smokers) | 15    |
| Prostate               | 15    | Skin               | 15    |
| Multiple myeloma       | 15    | Penile             | 15    |
| Soft tissue sarcoma    | 15    | Mesothelioma       | 15    |
| Laryngeal              | 15    | Kidney             | 20    |
| Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma | 20    | Esophageal         | 25    |

- **Lung.** Non-smokers only (s. 28(3)(b)); the required smoke-free period is none for fewer than 365 cigarettes in a lifetime and 6 to 28 years otherwise, by daily consumption [(The Workers’ Compensation General Regulations, 1985 \[SK\], 2024, s. 22.4)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-the-workers-compensation-general-regulations-1985-sk).
- **Heart.** An injury to the heart that manifests within 24 hours after attendance at an emergency response, with no minimum service (s. 28(1)(b); [The Workers’ Compensation General Regulations, 1985 \[SK\], 2024, s. 22.3](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-the-workers-compensation-general-regulations-1985-sk)).
- **Psychological injury.** Presumed work-related for any worker exposed to a traumatic event, or in a prescribed occupation, and diagnosed by a psychiatrist or psychologist under the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (s. 28.1). It covers volunteer firefighters as workers.
- **Volunteers.** “Worker” includes a member of a municipal volunteer fire brigade (s. 2(1)).

**Fire-service nuance.**

- S.S. 2024, c. 11 added six cancers (penile, pancreatic, thyroid, soft tissue sarcoma, mesothelioma and laryngeal), with the regulation amended 2024-07-19.
- S.S. 2025, c. 21 extended the presumptions to wildland firefighters, in force 2025-08-01 according to the board; the mechanism does not show in the consolidated s. 28.
- Whether gradual-onset stress is compensable depends on board policy, which was not read; “injury” includes “any disablement” (s. 2(1)).

**Status.** Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (Act consolidated to 2025-08-07; Regulations to 2024-10-01). Wildland mechanism, gradual-onset policy and contractor clearance not verified.

## Manitoba

**Law.** The Workers Compensation Act, ss. 1(1), 1(1.1), 1(4), 1(5), 4(4.1) and 4(5.1) to 4(5.8) [(The Workers Compensation Act \[MB\], 2026)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-the-workers-compensation-act-mb); Minimum Periods of Employment and Non-Smoking: Firefighters and OFC Personnel Regulation, ss. 2 and 3 [(Minimum Periods of Employment and Non-Smoking: Firefighters and OFC Personnel Regulation \[MB\], 2026)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-minimum-periods-of-employment-and-non-smoking-firefighters-and-ofc-personnel-regulation-mb); Occupational Diseases Regulation, Schedule [(Occupational Diseases Regulation \[MB\], 2024)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-occupational-diseases-regulation-mb). Board: Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba.

**What must be covered.**

- **Board administration.** Check contractors’ standing before work and payment.
- **Cancers.** 19 primary-site cancers for full-time firefighters, part-time firefighters (casual, volunteer or part-time members of a municipal fire brigade), wildfire firefighters and Office of the Fire Commissioner personnel, with minimum cumulative service and regular fire-scene exposure (s. 4(5.1)-(5.3); MR 160/2005 s. 2):

| Cancer           | Years | Cancer                 | Years |
|:-----------------|:------|:-----------------------|:------|
| Leukemia         | 5     | Brain                  | 10    |
| Testicular       | 10    | Breast                 | 10    |
| Thyroid          | 10    | Pancreatic             | 10    |
| Ovarian          | 10    | Cervical               | 10    |
| Bladder          | 15    | Colorectal             | 15    |
| Ureter           | 15    | Lung (non-smokers)     | 15    |
| Multiple myeloma | 15    | Prostate               | 15    |
| Skin             | 15    | Penile                 | 15    |
| Kidney           | 20    | Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma | 20    |
| Esophageal       | 25    |                        |       |

- **Lung.** No smoke-free period is needed for a person who smoked fewer than 365 cigarettes, cigars or pipes in a lifetime; otherwise 6 years (fewer than 10 a day) up to 28 years (40 or more a day), and 8 years for more than one cigar or pipe a day (s. 4(5.4); MR 160/2005 s. 3).
- **Effective dates.** Full-time firefighters, accidents on or after 1992-01-01; part-time and Fire Commissioner personnel, on or after 2005-06-09; wildfire firefighters, from the date their clause came into force (s. 4(5.5)).
- **Heart.** An injury to the heart within 24 hours after attendance at an emergency response, for full-time, part-time and wildfire firefighters and Fire Commissioner personnel (s. 4(5.6)).
- **PTSD.** Presumed for any worker exposed to a traumatic event related to work and diagnosed with PTSD by a physician or psychologist, casual emergency workers included (s. 4(5.8)).
- **Other mental stress.** Not compensable unless it is an acute reaction to a traumatic event or s. 4(5.8) applies; employment decisions are excluded (s. 1(1.1)).
- **Smoke poisoning.** The scheduled occupational disease presumption covers poisoning by asphyxiants such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen cyanide with occupational exposure (s. 4(4.1); [Occupational Diseases Regulation \[MB\], 2024, Sch. item 1(b)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-occupational-diseases-regulation-mb)).
- **Volunteers.** A “casual emergency worker” includes a municipal fire brigade member, paid or not, whose membership has been approved by the chief or the municipality, and people assisting at a fire under a fire guardian, conservation officer, chief or the Fire Commissioner (s. 1(4)(a), (c)). The municipality is the deemed employer (s. 1(5)(a)).

**Fire-service nuance.**

- Wildfire firefighters were added to the cancer and heart presumptions by S.M. 2023, c. 21, in force 2024-01-01.
- Keep each volunteer’s approval as a brigade member on file; coverage depends on it.

**Status.** Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (Act consolidated to 2026-10-20; MR 160/2005 version from 2024-01-01). The wildfire in-force date and contractor clearance are not verified.

## Ontario

**Law.** Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, ss. 2(1), 13(4), 14, 15.1, 70, 78(3) and 141 [(Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 \[ON\], 1997)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workplace-safety-and-insurance-act-1997-on); O. Reg. 253/07, Firefighters, ss. 2 to 5 [(Part I of the Act: Firefighters and Fire Investigators \[ON\], 2026, ss. 2-5)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-part-i-of-the-act-firefighters-and-fire-investigators-on). Board: Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.

**What must be covered.**

- **Board administration.** When a department retains a contractor for work other than construction, the board may deem the department the employer of the contractor’s workers and make it liable for unpaid premiums, with a right to recover them from the contractor [(Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 \[ON\], 1997, s. 141)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workplace-safety-and-insurance-act-1997-on). Check each contractor’s clearance before work and before payment.
- **Cancers.** 19 cancer types for full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters and fire investigators; volunteer service counts toward the years and overlapping periods count once ([Part I of the Act: Firefighters and Fire Investigators \[ON\], 2026, ss. 2, 5](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-part-i-of-the-act-firefighters-and-fire-investigators-on); [Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 \[ON\], 1997, s. 15.1](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workplace-safety-and-insurance-act-1997-on)):

| Minimum | Cancers |
|:---|:---|
| 10 years | Brain, breast, testicular, ovarian, cervical, thyroid, pancreatic [(Part I of the Act: Firefighters and Fire Investigators \[ON\], 2026, s. 5(2))](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-part-i-of-the-act-firefighters-and-fire-investigators-on); skin, since 2024-12-02 [(Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 \[ON\], 1997, s. 15.1(4.3)-(4.4))](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workplace-safety-and-insurance-act-1997-on); kidney and colorectal, since 2025-07-01 (s. 15.1(4.5)-(4.8)) |
| 15 years | Bladder, ureter, multiple myeloma, prostate, penile, and primary acute myeloid, chronic lymphocytic and acute lymphocytic leukemia [(Part I of the Act: Firefighters and Fire Investigators \[ON\], 2026, s. 5(3))](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-part-i-of-the-act-firefighters-and-fire-investigators-on); lung, with no tobacco smoking in the 10 years before diagnosis (s. 5(3.1)); esophageal, since 2024-05-01 [(Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 \[ON\], 1997, s. 15.1(4.1)-(4.2))](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workplace-safety-and-insurance-act-1997-on) |
| 20 years | Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma [(Part I of the Act: Firefighters and Fire Investigators \[ON\], 2026, s. 5(4))](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-part-i-of-the-act-firefighters-and-fire-investigators-on) |

- **Heart.** An injury to the heart sustained “while, or within 24 hours of” attending a fire scene or “actively participating in a training exercise” that involves a simulated fire emergency is presumed work-related, for full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters and fire investigators ([Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 \[ON\], 1997, s. 15.1(1)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workplace-safety-and-insurance-act-1997-on); [Part I of the Act: Firefighters and Fire Investigators \[ON\], 2026, ss. 2-3](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-part-i-of-the-act-firefighters-and-fire-investigators-on)).
- **PTSD.** Presumed for firefighters (full-time, part-time and volunteer), fire investigators, dispatch workers and other first responders, on a diagnosis by a psychiatrist or psychologist under the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, unless the contrary is shown; it excludes PTSD caused by the employer’s employment decisions and allows claims up to 24 months after leaving the role [(Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 \[ON\], 1997, s. 14)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workplace-safety-and-insurance-act-1997-on).
- **Other mental stress.** “Chronic or traumatic mental stress” has been compensable since 2018-01-01, excluding employment decisions (s. 13(4)-(5)).
- **Volunteers.** “Worker” includes “a member of a municipal volunteer fire brigade whose membership has been approved by the chief of the fire department” (s. 2(1)). The municipality is the deemed employer (s. 70) and sets each member’s deemed earnings in its annual statement (s. 78(3)).

**Fire-service nuance.**

- Ontario is the only jurisdiction whose heart presumption covers live-fire training. Log every live-fire evolution with the members on it.
- Kidney and colorectal moved from the regulation into the Act (10 years, no age cap) on 2025-07-01, but the regulation’s consolidation to 2026-10-20 still shows the revoking amendment (O. Reg. 129/25) as pending. Rely on the Act and confirm with the board before advising a member.
- Ministry wildland firefighters are within the presumptions by definition.

**Status.** Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (Act and Regulation consolidated to the e-Laws currency date of 2026-10-20), with the consolidation note above.

## Quebec

**Law.** Act respecting industrial accidents and occupational diseases, ss. 12.0.1, 13 and 30 [(Act respecting industrial accidents and occupational diseases \[QC\], 2026)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-act-respecting-industrial-accidents-and-occupational-diseases-qc); Regulation respecting occupational diseases, Schedule A, Divisions VII and VIII, as amended by O.C. 532-2025 [(Regulation respecting occupational diseases \[QC\], 2026)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-regulation-respecting-occupational-diseases-qc). Board: Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST).

**What must be covered.**

- **Board administration.** The CNESST insures and adjudicates; check contractors’ standing before work and payment.
- **Cancers.** 15 types for a “full-time or part-time operational firefighter, employed by a city or municipality”, meaning one assigned to firefighting, cause investigation, driving the trucks or operating pumpers or aerial devices, with exposure to fire smoke:

| Minimum | Cancers |
|:---|:---|
| None | Non-pulmonary mesothelioma |
| 5 years | Leukemia |
| 10 years | Brain, breast, testicular |
| 15 years | Laryngeal, and lung or pulmonary mesothelioma (each requiring no smoking in the 10 years before diagnosis); multiple myeloma; melanoma; prostate |
| 20 years | Kidney, bladder, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, colorectal, esophageal |

- **Heart.** **No presumption.** A cardiac claim follows the general rules of proof.
- **PTSD.** Presumed for any worker who did “work involving repeated or extreme exposure to serious injury, sexual violence or threatened death, or to actual death not resulting from natural causes” (Schedule A, Div. VII), part-time firefighters included.
- **Other mental stress.** No presumption; the general proof route applies (s. 30).
- **Volunteers.** Covered only if the municipality or other user of their services files a statement with the CNESST (s. 13). People whose help a firefighter accepts or requires at an event are deemed workers of the fire service authority (s. 12.0.1).

**Fire-service nuance.**

- The list was expanded to 15 types by O.C. 532-2025; earlier notes describing nine cancers and no PTSD presumption are out of date.
- “Employed by a city or municipality” may exclude intermunicipal boards and private fire services; confirm with the CNESST.
- With no heart presumption, a cardiac event on duty needs strong evidence: exertion, heat, smoke and timing. Record it the same day.

**Status.** Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (Act consolidated to 2026-08-12; Regulation to 2026-07-01). Coverage of non-municipal employers and contractor attestation not verified.

## New Brunswick

**Law.** Workers’ Compensation Act, ss. 1 and 7.1 [(Workers’ Compensation Act \[NB\], 1973)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workers-compensation-act-nb); Firefighters’ Compensation Act, ss. 1, 4 and 5 [(Firefighters’ Compensation Act \[NB\], 2009)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-firefighters-compensation-act-nb); General Regulation 2009-72, Schedule A [(General Regulation: Firefighters’ Compensation Act \[NB\], 2025)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-general-regulation-firefighters-compensation-act-nb). Board: WorkSafeNB (the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission).

**What must be covered.**

- **Board administration.** Firefighters’ Compensation Act benefits are paid only after the Commission decides there is no entitlement under the Workers’ Compensation Act [(Firefighters’ Compensation Act \[NB\], 2009, s. 5(2))](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-firefighters-compensation-act-nb). Check contractors’ standing before work and payment.
- **Cancers.** 10 cancers, each with the minimum service below and regular exposure “to the hazards of a fire scene … other than a forest fire scene” ([Firefighters’ Compensation Act \[NB\], 2009, s. 5(1)(b)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-firefighters-compensation-act-nb); [General Regulation: Firefighters’ Compensation Act \[NB\], 2025, Sch. A](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-general-regulation-firefighters-compensation-act-nb)):

| Cancer                                 | Years | Cancer                 | Years |
|:---------------------------------------|:------|:-----------------------|:------|
| Primary leukemia                       | 5     | Brain                  | 10    |
| Bladder                                | 15    | Ureter                 | 15    |
| Lung (non-smoker for 10 or more years) | 15    | Colorectal             | 20    |
| Kidney                                 | 20    | Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma | 20    |
| Testicular                             | 20    | Oesophageal            | 25    |

- **Heart.** “A heart attack that occurs within 24 hours after attendance at an emergency response scene” [(Firefighters’ Compensation Act \[NB\], 2009, s. 5(1)(a))](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-firefighters-compensation-act-nb), with no minimum service.
- **PTSD.** Presumed for an “emergency response worker”, meaning a firefighter as defined in the Firefighters’ Compensation Act (so volunteers are included), a paramedic or a police officer, on a diagnosis by a psychiatrist or psychologist, unless the contrary is shown; diagnoses up to 24 months after leaving the role are covered [(Workers’ Compensation Act \[NB\], 1973, s. 7.1)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workers-compensation-act-nb). The in-force date was not read.
- **Other mental stress.** Not compensable: “accident” excludes mental stress other than an acute reaction to a traumatic event [(Workers’ Compensation Act \[NB\], 1973, s. 1)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workers-compensation-act-nb).
- **Volunteers.** “Worker” includes a member of a municipal volunteer fire brigade whose membership is approved by the chief [(Workers’ Compensation Act \[NB\], 1973, s. 1)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workers-compensation-act-nb), and the Firefighters’ Compensation Act covers anyone who serves as a firefighter with a municipality, rural community or rural district brigade [(Firefighters’ Compensation Act \[NB\], 2009, s. 1)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-firefighters-compensation-act-nb). A volunteer’s earnings are based on their regular occupation, capped at maximum annual earnings [(Firefighters’ Compensation Act \[NB\], 2009, s. 4)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-firefighters-compensation-act-nb).

**Fire-service nuance.**

- New Brunswick has the shortest list in Canada and the longest testicular minimum (20 years). No breast, prostate, skin or multiple myeloma presumption exists here.
- WorkSafeNB consulted in April 2024 on merging the Firefighters’ Compensation Act into the Workers’ Compensation Act and expanding the cancer list [(WorkSafeNB, 2024)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-worksafenb-2024). No expansion had been made by the Regulation’s consolidation of 2025-06-06, and a review of both Acts is reported to be under way.

**Status.** Partly verified: the Acts and Regulation were read (consolidated to 2025-06-06); the PTSD in-force date and the status of the review are not verified.

## Nova Scotia

**Law.** Workers’ Compensation Act, ss. 12A, 35A and 89A (Workers’ Compensation Act \[NS\], 1994-95); Firefighters’ Compensation Regulations, ss. 2 and 3 [(Firefighters’ Compensation Regulations \[NS\], 2025, ss. 2-3)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-firefighters-compensation-regulations-ns); board guidance [(WCB Nova Scotia, 2025)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-wcb-nova-scotia-2025). Board: Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia.

**What must be covered.**

- **Board administration.** The board insures municipalities and registered volunteer departments; contractors working for the department should be registered and in good standing, confirmed by a clearance letter. Occupational hearing loss claims go through the board’s hearing loss policy, with the department’s audiometry and noise records as the evidence.
- **Cancers.** 19 sites, each with a minimum period of service and regular exposure to the hazards of a fire scene other than a forest fire [(Firefighters’ Compensation Regulations \[NS\], 2025, s. 2)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-firefighters-compensation-regulations-ns):

| Cancer               | Years | Cancer           | Years |
|:---------------------|:------|:-----------------|:------|
| Leukemia             | 5     | Brain            | 10    |
| Testicular           | 10    | Breast           | 10    |
| Ovarian              | 10    | Cervical         | 10    |
| Pancreatic           | 10    | Thyroid          | 10    |
| Bladder              | 15    | Ureter           | 15    |
| Lung                 | 15    | Multiple myeloma | 15    |
| Prostate             | 15    | Skin             | 15    |
| Penile               | 15    | Kidney           | 20    |
| Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | 20    | Colorectal       | 20    |
| Esophageal           | 25    |                  |       |

- **Lung.** The firefighter was a non-smoker for the 10 years before diagnosis or used fewer than 365 tobacco products in their lifetime [(Firefighters’ Compensation Regulations \[NS\], 2025, s. 2)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-firefighters-compensation-regulations-ns).
- **Dates.** Six sites date from 2003; 13 were added on 2022-07-01, retroactive to diagnoses on or after 2021-07-01.
- **Heart.** A myocardial infarction within 24 hours after attending an emergency response scene as a firefighter, with no minimum service, for accidents on or after 2021-07-01 ([Firefighters’ Compensation Regulations \[NS\], 2025](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-firefighters-compensation-regulations-ns); Workers’ Compensation Act \[NS\], 1994-95, s. 35A).
- **PTSD.** PTSD diagnosed by a psychiatrist or psychologist in a front-line or emergency response worker, which includes paid and volunteer firefighters and emergency response dispatchers, is presumed work-related unless the contrary is shown. In force 2018-10-26; the claim must be made within 5 years of diagnosis; PTSD from the employer’s decisions (discipline, termination, reassignment) is excluded; there is no presumption for diagnoses before 2013-10-26 (Workers’ Compensation Act \[NS\], 1994-95, s. 12A).
- **Gradual-onset psychological injury** has been compensable for all workers since 2024-09-01.
- **Volunteers.** Volunteers are deemed workers with deemed earnings. The cancer and heart presumptions apply to a member of a volunteer department **only if they took part in at least 20 percent of the department’s activities (fire calls and training) in each year of the qualifying period**, with written confirmation of active status on the board-approved form signed by the chief or deputy chief [(Firefighters’ Compensation Regulations \[NS\], 2025, s. 3)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-firefighters-compensation-regulations-ns).

**Fire-service nuance.**

- **The 20 percent rule makes attendance and training records a compensation document.** Appeal decisions have turned on whether a volunteer could prove 20 percent participation year by year, and members of departments without records lost the presumption. Keep per-member, per-year participation and have the chief sign the annual confirmation.
- Appeal decisions have applied the 24-hour heart window strictly and contested events after training exercises. Log training as department activity and record on-scene exertion and rehabilitation.
- Nova Scotia has not matched the longer lists in British Columbia and Saskatchewan (laryngeal, mesothelioma, soft tissue sarcoma); check the list every year.

**Status.** Partly verified: the Regulations’ content comes from secondary sources and the board’s 2025 coverage table; the Act’s sections (12A, 35A) could not be checked against the official consolidation on the research date.

## Prince Edward Island

**Law.** Workers Compensation Act, ss. 1(1), 1(1.1), 2.1, 6(4.1) to 6(4.5) and 84.1 [(Workers Compensation Act \[PE\], 1988)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workers-compensation-act-pe); Workers Compensation Act General Regulations, ss. 9.1 and 9.2 [(Workers Compensation Act General Regulations \[PE\], 2025)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workers-compensation-act-general-regulations-pe); board policies POL-01 and POL-65 [(Workers Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island, 2025b, 2025c)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-pol-01-psychological-or-psychiatric-condition). Board: Workers Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island.

**What must be covered.**

- **Board administration.** Check contractors’ standing before work and payment.
- **Cancers.** 19 cancers for fire inspectors and firefighters exposed “to the hazards of a fire, other than a forest fire or wild fire”, who served the minimum period (s. 84.1; [Workers Compensation Act General Regulations \[PE\], 2025, s. 9.1](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workers-compensation-act-general-regulations-pe)):

| Cancer           | Years | Cancer               | Years |
|:-----------------|:------|:---------------------|:------|
| Leukaemia        | 5     | Brain                | 10    |
| Breast           | 10    | Cervical             | 10    |
| Ovarian          | 10    | Pancreatic           | 10    |
| Testicular       | 10    | Thyroid              | 10    |
| Multiple myeloma | 15    | Bladder              | 15    |
| Colorectal       | 15    | Lung                 | 15    |
| Penile           | 15    | Prostate             | 15    |
| Skin             | 15    | Ureter               | 15    |
| Kidney           | 20    | Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | 20    |
| Esophageal       | 25    |                      |       |

- **Lung.** Non-smoker for the 10 years before the accident date [(Workers Compensation Act General Regulations \[PE\], 2025, s. 9.1(2))](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workers-compensation-act-general-regulations-pe).
- **Dates and records.** The presumption applies to accident dates on or after 2019-01-01, and the board may require service records [(Workers Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island, 2025c)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-pol-65-occupational-disease).
- **Heart.** A firefighter or fire inspector who suffers a heart attack, cardiac arrest or heart arrhythmia “within 24 hours of responding to an emergency call or dispatch” (s. 6(4.5)).
- **Psychological injury.** For all workers: exposure to a traumatic event and a diagnosis of a trauma- or stressor-related disorder, including PTSD, by a psychiatrist or psychologist under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (s. 6(4.1)-(4.4); [Workers Compensation Act General Regulations \[PE\], 2025, s. 9.2](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workers-compensation-act-general-regulations-pe)), in effect since 2018-06-02 [(Workers Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island, 2025b)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-pol-01-psychological-or-psychiatric-condition).
- **Other mental stress.** The Act excludes stress other than an acute reaction to a traumatic event (s. 1(1.1)), but board policy covers the cumulative effects of multiple traumatic events and, from 2025-01-01, psychological injury from work-related harassment [(Workers Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island, 2025b)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-pol-01-psychological-or-psychiatric-condition).
- **Volunteers.** “Worker” includes a volunteer firefighter, and “firefighter” means a full-time, part-time, casual or volunteer member of a fire department or brigade (s. 1(1)). The municipality or organization operating the department is the volunteer’s employer, the assessment provisions do not apply to it, and the return-to-work provisions do not apply to volunteers (s. 2.1).

**Fire-service nuance.**

- Cervical, ovarian, penile, pancreatic and thyroid cancers were added in June 2025 (EC606/25).
- The heart window runs from responding to a call or dispatch, which helps members who collapse en route.
- The board consulted until 2026-10-30 on its pre-existing conditions policy (POL-61), which affects cardiac and musculoskeletal claims.

**Status.** Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (Act consolidated to 2026-05-29; Regulations to 2025-06-21; policies updated 2025). The POL-61 outcome and contractor clearance are not verified.

## Newfoundland and Labrador

**Law.** Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act, 2022, ss. 2(1)(v), 2(2) and 108 to 113 (Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act, 2022 \[NL\], 2022); Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Regulations, 2023, ss. 3, 4, 12 and 13 (Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Regulations, 2023 \[NL\], 2023). Board: WorkplaceNL.

**What must be covered.**

- **Board administration.** Check contractors’ standing before work and payment.
- **Who is a firefighter.** A member of a municipal, regional or Inuit Community Government fire department, an industrial fire department, or a provincial fire and emergency services employee (s. 108).
- **Cancers.** 19 cancers with minimum cumulative service (s. 108(e); Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Regulations, 2023 \[NL\], 2023, s. 12):

| Cancer               | Years | Cancer           | Years |
|:---------------------|:------|:-----------------|:------|
| Leukemia             | 5     | Brain            | 10    |
| Breast               | 10    | Pancreatic       | 10    |
| Thyroid              | 10    | Cervical         | 10    |
| Ovarian              | 10    | Bladder          | 15    |
| Lung                 | 15    | Ureter           | 15    |
| Penile               | 15    | Multiple myeloma | 15    |
| Prostate             | 15    | Skin             | 15    |
| Colorectal           | 20    | Kidney           | 20    |
| Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | 20    | Testicular       | 20    |
| Esophageal           | 25    |                  |       |

- **Conditions.** Regular exposure to the hazards of a fire scene “other than a forest fire scene” (s. 109(2)(b)); for lung cancer, no tobacco smoking in the 10 years before diagnosis (s. 109(3)); no colorectal presumption if diagnosed after age 61 (s. 109(4)); the employer reports the number of fire scenes attended and years of service (Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Regulations, 2023 \[NL\], 2023, s. 13).
- **Effective dates** (s. 111): the first 11 cancers from 2015-12-14 for career firefighters and 2017-01-01 for volunteers; the other 8 from 2019-12-18; the heart presumption from 2022-11-30.
- **Heart.** “An injury to the heart that manifests within 24 hours after attendance at an emergency response”, with no service minimum, volunteers included (s. 108(e)).
- **PTSD.** Presumed for all workers exposed to “a traumatic event or events” at work and diagnosed by a psychiatrist or registered psychologist, from 2019-07-01, excluding PTSD from the employer’s employment decisions (ss. 112-113).
- **Other mental stress.** Not compensable: “injury” excludes stress other than a reaction to traumatic events (s. 2(1)(v)), and employer decisions are not an injury (s. 2(2)).
- **Volunteers.** The municipality applies and WorkplaceNL admits the department; members certified by an official of the municipality are workers, covered from leaving home or work to respond until the response ends, for assigned duties, for equipment maintenance on department premises and for training “sanctioned by the Office of the Fire Commissioner”, but not for fundraising; the certified member count is filed every year before 1 January (Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Regulations, 2023 \[NL\], 2023, ss. 3-4).

**Fire-service nuance.**

- The ovarian minimum is 10 years in the Regulations; a widely used tracker says 15. Use the Regulations.
- Volunteer training is covered only if it is sanctioned by the Office of the Fire Commissioner; confirm the department’s training calendar is sanctioned.
- When a member is diagnosed with a listed disease, the employer must report the number of fire scenes they attended and their years of service (Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Regulations, 2023 \[NL\], 2023, s. 13); keep attendance records per member for the whole career, because they are the evidence for the exposure condition.
- No new diseases have been added since the 2022 amendments.

**Status.** Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (Act consolidated to 2026-06-30; Regulations in force 2023-09-01). Contractor clearance not checked.

## Yukon

**Law.** Workers’ Safety and Compensation Act, ss. 79(4), 82, 94 and 95 [(Workers’ Safety and Compensation Act \[YT\], 2021)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workers-safety-and-compensation-act-yt); board pages on the cancer presumption and psychological injuries (Yukon Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board, n.d.-b, n.d.-e). Board: Yukon Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board.

**What must be covered.**

- **Board administration.** Check contractors’ standing before work and payment.
- **Cancers.** The presumption (s. 94) covers full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters; the fire marshal and deputies count as full-time; wildland forest firefighters are excluded. The board lists 19 cancers with minimum cumulative service (Yukon Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board, n.d.-b):

| Cancer           | Years | Cancer                         | Years |
|:-----------------|:------|:-------------------------------|:------|
| Primary leukemia | 5     | Brain                          | 10    |
| Breast           | 10    | Cervical                       | 10    |
| Ovarian          | 10    | Pancreatic                     | 10    |
| Testicular       | 10    | Thyroid                        | 10    |
| Multiple myeloma | 15    | Bladder                        | 15    |
| Colorectal       | 15    | Lung                           | 15    |
| Penile           | 15    | Prostate                       | 15    |
| Skin             | 15    | Ureter                         | 15    |
| Kidney           | 20    | Primary non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma | 20    |
| Esophageal       | 25    |                                |       |

- **Conditions.** Lung cancer requires that the firefighter has not smoked a tobacco product in the 10 years immediately before diagnosis (s. 94(3)(a)(ii)); the claim must be filed within 12 months (s. 94(3)(b)); the presumption is effective for full-time firefighters after 2011-06-30 and for part-time and volunteer firefighters after 2014-03-27 (s. 94(4)). The board counts service in other jurisdictions.
- **Heart.** A cardiac arrest “within 24 hours after their attendance at an emergency response” is presumed work-related, for every type of firefighter, **wildland included** (s. 94(5)).
- **PTSD.** Presumed for all workers with a traumatic event and a diagnosis by a psychologist or psychiatrist, for injuries on or after 2022-07-01, excluding the employer’s employment decisions (s. 95).
- **Other mental stress.** Board policy covers traumatic events where employment is a significant cause, with repeated demeaning comments and harassment among the examples; management decisions and ordinary conflict are excluded (Yukon Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board, n.d.-e).
- **Volunteers.** Members of a volunteer fire brigade are designated workers of the Government of Yukon (s. 82(a)), as are people required by a competent authority to help fight a fire (s. 82(b)); optional coverage is available for other volunteers (s. 79(4)).

**Fire-service nuance.**

- The 12-month filing limit on cancer claims is unusual. Section 94(3)(b) counts it from the date the cancer is included as a listed disease, while the board’s page counts it from diagnosis; tell members at diagnosis.
- Wildland firefighters have the cardiac presumption but not the cancer presumption. The board says the territorial government has committed to amendments to add them; nothing had been enacted by 2026-10-23 (Yukon Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board, n.d.-b).

**Status.** Partly verified: the Act was read in a 2024 capture of the official consolidation; the cancer list and minimums come from the board’s page because the prescribing regulation was not found.

## Northwest Territories

**Law.** Workers’ Compensation Act, ss. 4(1)(b), 8(4), 8(5), 12, 13 and 14.1 [(Workers’ Compensation Act \[NT\], 2007)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workers-compensation-act-nt); Firefighters’ Presumption Regulations, Schedule, as amended by N.W.T. Reg. 099-2015 [(Firefighters’ Presumption Regulations \[NT\], 2015)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-firefighters-presumption-regulations-nt); An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act, No. 2, S.N.W.T. 2026, c. 13, in force 2027-01-01 (An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act, No. 2 \[NT\], 2026). Board: Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission.

**What must be covered.**

- **Board administration.** Check contractors’ standing before work and payment.
- **In force now** (s. 14.1; Regulations Schedule): cardiac arrest within 24 hours after attendance at an emergency response, with no minimum service, and 14 cancers:

| Cancer                 | Years | Cancer           | Years |
|:-----------------------|:------|:-----------------|:------|
| Primary leukemia       | 5     | Brain            | 10    |
| Breast                 | 10    | Multiple myeloma | 15    |
| Bladder                | 15    | Colorectal       | 15    |
| Lung (non-smoker rule) | 15    | Prostate         | 15    |
| Skin                   | 15    | Ureter           | 15    |
| Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma | 20    | Kidney           | 20    |
| Testicular             | 20    | Esophageal       | 25    |

- **Exclusions.** Firefighters “who exclusively fight forest fires” are excluded.
- **PTSD.** No presumption is in force; claims go through ordinary adjudication.
- **Other mental stress.** Stress arising from labour relations is excluded unless there is intent to harm (s. 12(b)); cumulative traumatic events are compensable (s. 13(1)(d)).
- **Volunteers.** People engaged in, or training for, rescue, ambulance or firefighting services are deemed workers (s. 4(1)(b)); the territorial government is the deemed employer unless the municipality pays the cost (s. 8(4)-(5)).
- **From 2027-01-01** (S.N.W.T. 2026, c. 13):
  - “listed disease” becomes any cancer prescribed by regulation, with 27 types planned;
  - the cancer presumption applies after **2 years** as a firefighter;
  - heart disease and heart injury (heart attack, cardiac arrest, arrhythmia) are presumed for a worker employed as a firefighter at disablement and regularly exposed to the hazards of a fire scene;
  - “firefighter” extends to fire inspection and investigation;
  - a new PTSD presumption (s. 14.2) covers front-line and emergency response workers, including firefighters, diagnosed under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, excluding PTSD caused by the employer’s decisions;
  - an evaluation panel reviews the presumptions every 5 years (s. 171.1).

**Fire-service nuance.**

- The regulation prescribing the 27 cancers had not been found by 2026-10-23.
- A two-year threshold for every listed cancer is far below the minimums anywhere else; start recording service and fire-scene attendance for every member now, volunteers included.
- Wildland firefighters remain outside the presumptions; the legislature pointed to the five-year review.

**Status.** Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (Act consolidation from 2023-03-30 showing the pending amendments; Regulations as amended to 2015) and, on 2026-10-24, against the reprint of Bill 48 on the Legislative Assembly’s site (two-year period, heart disease and heart injury, s. 14.2, s. 171.1 and the 2027-01-01 commencement confirmed; the 27 cancer types come from the government’s plain-language summary). The new cancer regulation is not yet available.

## Nunavut

**Law.** Workers’ Compensation Act, ss. 4(1)(b), 8(4), 8(5), 12, 13 and 14.1 [(Workers’ Compensation Act \[NU\], 2021)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-workers-compensation-act-nu); Firefighters’ Presumption Regulations, Schedule replaced by Nu. Reg. 005-2016 and amended by Nu. Reg. 014-2021 [(Firefighters’ Presumption Regulations \[NU\], 2021)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-firefighters-presumption-regulations-nu); An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act, S.Nu. 2025, c. 20 [(An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act \[NU\], 2025)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-an-act-to-amend-the-workers-compensation-act-nu). Board: Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission.

**What must be covered.**

- **Board administration.** Check contractors’ standing before work and payment.
- **Presumptions** (s. 14.1): cardiac arrest within 24 hours after attendance at an emergency response, and the same **14 cancers** and minimums as the Northwest Territories: leukemia 5 years; brain and breast 10; multiple myeloma, bladder, colorectal, lung, prostate, skin and ureter 15; non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, kidney and testicular 20; esophageal 25.
- **Lung.** A smoke-free period of 6 to 28 years by consumption; since R-014-2021 only tobacco products count.
- **PTSD.** No presumption, and none pending.
- **Other mental stress.** Labour-relations stress excluded (s. 12(b)); cumulative events compensable (s. 13(1)(d)).
- **Volunteers.** Deemed workers (s. 4(1)(b)); the territorial government is the deemed employer unless the municipality pays the cost (s. 8(4)-(5)).

**Fire-service nuance.**

- S.Nu. 2025, c. 20 (assented 2025-09-18, in force on a day to be fixed) restructures benefits and moves the lung-cancer non-smoker reference date to “the day the disease occurred”; it adds no presumption.
- The Northwest Territories’ 2026 changes do not apply in Nunavut, which will then be the only jurisdiction with no PTSD presumption.

**Status.** Verified against the official text on 2026-10-23 (Act official consolidation 2021-07-01; Regulations and amendments read; 2025 amending Act read).

## Federal

**Law.** Government Employees Compensation Act, s. 4 [(Government Employees Compensation Act \[CA\], 1985, s. 4)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-government-employees-compensation-act-ca); national framework on cancers linked to firefighting ([National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting Act \[CA\], 2023](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-national-framework-on-cancers-linked-to-firefighting-act-ca); [Health Canada, 2024](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-health-canada-2024)).

**What must be covered.**

- **Federal employees** are entitled to compensation “at the same rate and under the same conditions as are provided under the law of the province where the employee is usually employed”, decided by that province’s board (s. 4(2)-(3)). Provincial firefighter presumptions therefore apply to federal public service firefighters, such as Department of National Defence civilian firefighters, by reference.
- **Airport authorities and Crown corporations** are usually assessed directly by the provincial board.
- **Canadian Armed Forces members** are not covered by this Act; veterans’ benefits statutes apply.
- **National framework.** The federal Act of 2023 led to a national framework, tabled in 2024, covering a firefighter cancer registry, diagnostic guidance, research and support for wildland firefighter standards. It is not binding on employers [(Health Canada, 2024)](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j32-workers-compensation-and-firefighter-presumptions#ref-health-canada-2024).

**Fire-service nuance.**

- A federal fire service with members in more than one province applies each member’s province of usual employment, so the lists on this page apply member by member.
- Return-to-work rules for federal employers are in [J33 Return to Work, Accommodation and Hours of Work](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/j33-return-to-work-accommodation-and-hours-of-work).

**Status.** Partly verified: the Act (consolidated to 2026-09-30) was read; the case law applying provincial presumptions through it, and the treatment of airport authorities and Armed Forces members, were not.

## Chapters that rely on this topic

**Front matter**

- [00 Fire Service Safety Management System - Program HQ](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/program-hq)

**01 Foundations**

- [06 Glossary and Acronyms](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/glossary-and-acronyms)

**03 Assessment**

- [02 Gap Assessment Tool](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/gap-assessment-tool)
- [03 Hazard Profile and Risk Register Method](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/hazard-profile-and-risk-register-method)
- [04 Baseline Metrics and Indicator Set](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/baseline-metrics-and-indicator-set)

**04 Policies**

- [Policy - Contractors and Mutual Aid](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/policy-contractors-and-mutual-aid)
- [Policy - Fatigue and Hours of Work](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/policy-fatigue-and-hours-of-work)
- [Policy - Incident, Injury, Exposure and Near-Miss Reporting and Investigation](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/policy-incident-injury-exposure-and-near-miss-reporting-and-investigation)
- [Policy - Occupational Medical, Fitness and Wellness](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/policy-occupational-medical-fitness-and-wellness)
- [Policy - Personal Protective Equipment and Contamination Control](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/policy-personal-protective-equipment-and-contamination-control)
- [Policy - Psychological Health and Safety](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/policy-psychological-health-and-safety)
- [Policy - Volunteer Members](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/policy-volunteer-members)
- [Policy - Workplace Violence and Harassment](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/policy-workplace-violence-and-harassment)

**05 Programs**

- [Contractor and Mutual Aid Safety Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/contractor-and-mutual-aid-safety-program)
- [Decontamination and Contamination Control Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/decontamination-and-contamination-control-program)
- [Firefighter Rehabilitation Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/firefighter-rehabilitation-program)
- [Hearing Conservation Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/hearing-conservation-program)
- [Heat, Cold and Weather Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/heat-cold-and-weather-program)
- [Incident Investigation and Learning Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/incident-investigation-and-learning-program)
- [Medical, Fitness and Wellness Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/medical-fitness-and-wellness-program)
- [Occupational Cancer Prevention, Exposure Tracking and Screening Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/occupational-cancer-prevention-exposure-tracking-and-screening-program)
- [Protective Clothing and Equipment Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/protective-clothing-and-equipment-program)
- [Psychological Health and Safety and Peer Support Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/psychological-health-and-safety-and-peer-support-program)
- [Wildland and Interface Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/wildland-and-interface-program)
- [Workplace Violence and Harassment Program](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/workplace-violence-and-harassment-program)

**06 Safe Work Procedures**

- [SWP - Bunker Gear Advanced Inspection](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/swp-bunker-gear-advanced-inspection)
- [SWP - Bunker Gear Retirement and Records](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/swp-bunker-gear-retirement-and-records)
- [SWP - Exposure Reporting](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/swp-exposure-reporting)
- [SWP - On-Scene Preliminary Exposure Reduction](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/swp-on-scene-preliminary-exposure-reduction)
- [SWP - Post-Call Station Decontamination](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/swp-post-call-station-decontamination)
- [SWP - Rehabilitation at Incidents and Training](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/swp-rehabilitation-at-incidents-and-training)
- [SWP - Wildland Deployment, LCES and Heat](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/swp-wildland-deployment-lces-and-heat)

**07 Audit**

- [02 Audit Checklist Master Index](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/audit-checklist-master-index)
- [Checklist - Cancer Prevention, Exposure and Screening](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/checklist-cancer-prevention-exposure-and-screening)
- [Checklist - Decontamination and Contamination Control](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/checklist-decontamination-and-contamination-control)
- [Checklist - Medical, Fitness and Wellness](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/checklist-medical-fitness-and-wellness)
- [Checklist - Psychological Health and Peer Support](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/checklist-psychological-health-and-peer-support)
- [Checklist - Rehabilitation](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/checklist-rehabilitation)

**08 Implementation**

- [02 Business Case and Cost Model](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/business-case-and-cost-model)

**09 Forms and Templates**

- [Form - Contractor Orientation Checklist](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/form-contractor-orientation-checklist)
- [Form - Exposure Report](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/form-exposure-report)
- [Form - Fatigue Self-Report and Officer Response](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/form-fatigue-self-report-and-officer-response)
- [Form - Volunteer Participation Annual Confirmation](https://thehumanfactor.ca/library/fire-service-safety/form-volunteer-participation-annual-confirmation)

## Definitions

- **Cumulative service.** Total years as a firefighter, adding separate periods and, where the board allows, service in other departments or jurisdictions.
- **Deemed employer.** The body the statute treats as a volunteer’s employer for compensation, such as the municipality or the territorial government.
- **Presumption.** A statutory rule that a listed disease or injury in a qualifying worker is caused by the work unless the board proves otherwise.
- **Regular exposure.** The factual condition, in most cancer presumptions, that the firefighter was routinely exposed to the hazards of fire scenes throughout the qualifying period.
- **Window.** The period, usually 24 hours after dispatch, response or attendance, within which a heart event must occur for the heart presumption to apply.

## References

Act respecting industrial accidents and occupational diseases, CQLR c. A-3.001 (Quebec; consolidated to 2026-08-12). <https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/document/cs/A-3.001>

An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act, No. 2, S.N.W.T. 2026, c. 13 (Northwest Territories; certified text of 2026-06-04, in force 2027-01-01). <https://www.ntlegislativeassembly.ca/documents-proceedings/bills/act-amend-workers-compensation-act-no-2>

An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act, S.Nu. 2025, c. 20 (Nunavut; assented 2025-09-18; not in force). <https://www.nunavutlegislation.ca/en/statutes/workers-compensation-act-act-amend-c20>

Firefighters’ Compensation Act, S.N.B. 2009, c. F-12.5 (New Brunswick; consolidated to 2025-06-06). <https://laws.gnb.ca/en/document/cs/F-12.5>

Firefighters’ Compensation Regulations, N.S. Reg. 140/2003 (Nova Scotia; consolidated to 2025-09; amended to N.S. Reg. 111/2022, in force 2022-07-01). <https://novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/wocfire.htm>

Firefighters’ Occupational Disease Regulation, B.C. Reg. 125/2009 (British Columbia; consolidated to 2026-10-20). <https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/125_2009>

Firefighters’ Presumption Regulations, Nu. Reg. 016-2010 (Nunavut; consolidated to 2021-02-26). <https://www.nunavutlegislation.ca/en/consolidated-law/firefighters-presumption-regulations>

Firefighters’ Presumption Regulations, N.W.T. Reg. 039-2010 (Northwest Territories; consolidated to 2015-10-23). <https://www.justice.gov.nt.ca/>

Firefighters’ Primary Site Cancer Regulation, Alta. Reg. 102/2003 (Alberta; consolidated to 2023-04-05). <https://kings-printer.alberta.ca/documents/Regs/2003_102.pdf>

General Regulation: Firefighters’ Compensation Act, N.B. Reg. 2009-72 (New Brunswick; consolidated to 2025-06-06). <https://laws.gnb.ca/en/document/cr/2009-72>

Government Employees Compensation Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. G-5 (Canada; consolidated to 2026-09-30). <https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/g-5/>

Health Canada. (2024). *National framework on cancers linked to firefighting*. <https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/firefighters-health/national-framework-cancers-linked-firefighting.html>

Minimum Periods of Employment and Non-Smoking: Firefighters and OFC Personnel Regulation, Man. Reg. 160/2005 (Manitoba; consolidated to 2026-10-23). <https://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/regs/current/160-2005.php?lang=en>

National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting Act, S.C. 2023, c. 20 (Canada; consolidation date not recorded; Bill C-224, Royal Assent 2023). <https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/44-1/c-224>

Occupational Diseases Regulation, Man. Reg. 69/2023 (Manitoba; consolidated to 2024-09-01). <https://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/regs/current/069-2023.php?lang=en>

Part I of the Act: Firefighters and Fire Investigators, O. Reg. 253/07 (Ontario; consolidated to 2026-10-20). <https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/070253>

Regulation respecting occupational diseases, CQLR c. A-3.001, r. 8.1 (Quebec; consolidated to 2026-07-01). <https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/document/cr/A-3.001,%20r.%208.1>

The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013, S.S. 2013, c. W-17.11 (Saskatchewan; consolidated to 2025-08-07). <https://publications.saskatchewan.ca/#/products/69362>

The Workers Compensation Act, C.C.S.M. c. W200 (Manitoba; consolidated to 2026-10-20). <https://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/w200.php?lang=en>

The Workers’ Compensation General Regulations, 1985, R.R.S. c. W-17.1, Reg. 1 (Saskatchewan; consolidated to 2024-10-01). <https://publications.saskatchewan.ca/#/products/1615>

Workers’ Compensation Act, C.S.Nu., c. W-70 (Nunavut; consolidated to 2021-07-01). <https://www.nunavutlegislation.ca/en/consolidated-law/workers-compensation-act-official-consolidation>

Workers Compensation Act General Regulations, citation not recorded (Prince Edward Island; consolidated to 2025-06-21). <https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/sites/default/files/legislation/w07-1g-workers_compensation_act_general_regulations.pdf>

Workers’ Compensation Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. W-15 (Alberta; consolidated to 2025-12-18). <https://kings-printer.alberta.ca/documents/Acts/W15.pdf>

Workers Compensation Act, R.S.B.C. 2019, c. 1 (British Columbia; consolidated to 2026-10-13). <https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/19001_00>

Workers’ Compensation Act, R.S.N.B. 1973, c. W-13 (New Brunswick; consolidated to 2025-06-06). <https://laws.gnb.ca/en/document/cs/W-13>

Workers Compensation Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, c. W-7.1 (Prince Edward Island; consolidated to 2026-05-29). <https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/sites/default/files/legislation/w-07-1-workers_compensation_act.pdf>

Workers’ Compensation Act, S.N.S. 1994-95, c. 10 (Nova Scotia; consolidation date not recorded). <https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/workers%27%20compensation.pdf>

Workers’ Compensation Act, S.N.W.T. 2007, c. 21 (Northwest Territories; consolidated to 2023-03-30). <https://www.justice.gov.nt.ca/>

Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia \[WCB Nova Scotia\]. (2025). *Firefighter coverage* (May 2025; Appendix A, presumptive table). <https://www.wcb.ns.ca/sites/default/files/2025-09/WCB-Firefighter-Coverage.pdf>

Workers Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island. (2025b). *POL-01: Psychological or psychiatric condition* (updated 2025-01-01). <https://www.wcb.pe.ca/DocumentManagement/Document/pol01_psychologicalorpsychiatriccondition.pdf>

Workers Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island. (2025c). *POL-65: Occupational disease* (updated 2025-06-21). <https://www.wcb.pe.ca/DocumentManagement/Document/pol65_occupationaldisease.pdf>

Workers’ Compensation Board-Alberta. (2026). *Policies and information manual*. <https://www.wcb.ab.ca/assets/pdfs/public/policy/manual/printable_pdfs/complete_policy_manual.pdf>

Workers’ Safety and Compensation Act, S.Y. 2021, c. 11 (Yukon; consolidated to 2024-12-25). <https://laws.yukon.ca/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/2021/2021-0011/2021-0011.pdf>

Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act, 2022, S.N.L. 2022, c. W-11.1 (Newfoundland and Labrador; consolidated to 2026-06-30). <https://www.assembly.nl.ca/legislation/sr/statutes/w11-1.htm>

Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Regulations, 2023, N.L.R. 67/23 (Newfoundland and Labrador; consolidated to 2023-09-01). <https://www.assembly.nl.ca/legislation/sr/regulations/rc230067.htm>

Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, S.O. 1997, c. 16, Sched. A (Ontario; consolidated to 2026-10-20). <https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/97w16>

WorkSafeBC. (n.d.-e). *Society fire brigades and volunteer firefighters*. <https://www.worksafebc.com/en/about-us/news-events/campaigns/society-fire-brigades-volunteer-firefighters>

WorkSafeNB. (2024). *Public consultation launched on proposed changes to the Firefighters’ Compensation Act* (news release, April 2024). <https://www.worksafenb.ca/about-us/news-and-events/news/2024/public-consultation-launched-on-proposed-changes-to-the-firefighters-compensation-act/>

Yukon Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board. (n.d.-b). *Firefighter cancer presumption*. <https://www.wcb.yk.ca/web-0005/web-0010/firefighter-cancer-presumption>

Yukon Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board. (n.d.-e). *Psychological injuries*. <https://www.wcb.yk.ca/web-0005/web-0007/psychological-injuries>