441-02774 (Employment and labour)

We, the undersigned Citizens of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons:

WHEREAS:

Health Canada's State of PFAS Report and Risk Management Report have called for the reduction and prohibition of all forms of Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) due to their severe environmental and human health impacts, including effects on the immune and nervous systems, liver, kidney, thyroid, as well as development and reproductive systems, and can cause significant danger to the environment or to human life or health;

It is well known and documented that fire fighters contract cancer and other diseases at higher rates than the general public due to the toxic exposures they experience in the course of their duties. As a result, firefighting practices emphasize proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) usage, decontamination protocols and other measures designed to minimize exposure to carcinogens present in combusted materials; and

It has now been determined that for many decades, fire fighters have been regularly exposed to dangerous chemicals from the very things they use to carry out their duties: the coats and pants that make up their firefighting protective gear contain high concentrations of toxic chemicals called PFAS for the primary purpose of repelling water and oil. Fire fighters are also exposed to PFAS in aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) that are used as extinguishing agents at some airports and military facilities across Canada.

THEREFORE, your petitioners call on the Government of Canada, to:

(a) amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 to prohibit the manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale or import of PFAS;

(b) amend the Canada Labour Code to provide that an employer who employs firefighters must ensure that they are provided with personal protective equipment and fire suppression foam that do not contain any detectable levels of PFAS;

(c) amend the definition of firefighter in the Subsection 125 (1) of the Canada Labour Code as follows: 1. "firefighter" means a person regularly employed in, or appointed to, a fire department, fire marshal's office, private fire contractor, seasonal private or public fire service, or band council, and assigned to undertake fire protection services for an employer; also, "pompier" -Including those who carry out fire suppression duties, whether or not those duties include the performance of other emergency services; or -Including those who carry out investigation duties respecting the cause, origin or circumstances of a fire; and

(d) work with provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous and community-based organizations to put into place a timeline and cost- sharing model to phase out firefighters' personal protective equipment and fire suppression foam that contain any detectable levels of PFAS.