A retired Hamilton Township firefighter might say the new legislation brought in to protect firefighters wasn’t about him – but he definitely was the spark, that lit the flame for change.
It was a special day at Queen’s Park on Monday, October 28, 2024 for sixty-year-year-old Ric Ash.
Shortly before 2 p.m. MPP David Piccini along with the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Edith Dumont, announced to Ash, Hamilton Fire Chief Mike Robinson, President of IAFF Local 1732 (Cobourg Fire Department Captain) Jeff Briggs and a host of others dignitaries at a Queen’s Park luncheon that she had signed a Bill giving Royal Assent to lowering firefighters time on the job for skin cancer health coverage.
Previously a firefighter had to be on the job for 15-years, but on Monday, October 28, 2024, the Ontario Parliament brought the time down to 10-years.
Piccini spoke with Today’s Northumberland shortly after about the two-year process for lowering the time for firefighters to be eligible for coverage.
It was about recognizing firefighters who “give their lives to protect our communities.”
“We’ve made sure for skin cancer that we serve those who serve us,” said Piccini.
Having the three firefighters attend Queen’s Park for the passing of the Bill meant a lot to Piccini.
“As a local member seeing that come to fruition in legislation it matters.”
Initially the legislation was 20 years, then lowered to 15-years, and as of Monday it is now 10-years.
Piccini is proud to say the Bill got all parties support which is something that doesn’t happen often.
“It speaks to everybody’s work in this Bill. It’s one of the biggest Working for Workers Bill’s we’ve ever had. It incorporates a number of things to protect workers – to put money back in their pockets, to make sure they are safe on their job.”
With the legislation taking two-years it went very quickly even though for some it may not seem like that.
“It’s a lot of work behind the scenes.”
“It’s these collective stories that get sewn together to form the legislation that we produced.”
“I’m really proud of it and I’m proud of the people, whose voices have been heard and are not articulated through this piece of legislation we’ve brought through.”
Ash praised Piccini for his efforts.
The two first met at a fish-lift in Cobourg in 2022.
Since then Piccini has been very proactive in getting the legislation passed along with many people including Briggs.
“It’s a meaningful thing – it’s not for me. It’s really going to help guys going forward knocking it down five-years from 15 to 10.”
Ash was with Hamilton Township Fire Department for nearly 25 years.
In 2011 Ash was diagnosed with melanoma and received treatments.
Ten-years later in 2021 he discovered he had lung cancer that was traced back to the melanoma.
After navigating through the system for coverage, Ash discovered that a firefighter had to have 15-years of service to be compensated.
At that time, Ash had been a firefighter for 14-years and nine months.
“So we were literally 90-days from compensation.”
But that wasn’t the purpose on working to change the legislation.
“The issue was, once we found out it was 15-years it was far too long for somebody to have served and be sick.”
Still taking treatments, Ash thinks of other firefighters who may have been helped if this legislation had been brought in years ago.
“There maybe a lot of other guys that were outside that bubble. Maybe some had 12 or 13-years (on the job) and they missed it by two years and aren’t here today.”
“The advances in fighting cancer are so much better today, that maybe five years sooner might have helped guys stay around a lot longer with their families.”