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HomeMy WebLinkAboutADMIN 16-86 TOWN OF NEWCASTLE REPORT File # 3 Res. # -- _ -�. By-Law # MEETING: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE DATE: FEBRUARY 17 1986 REPORT #: ADMIN. 16 - 86 FILE #: SUBJECT: TOWNSHIP OF LONDON RESOLUTION WITH RESPECT TO VOLUNTEER FIREMEN RECOMMENDATIONS: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. That Administrator's report ADMIN. 16 - 86 and the resolution from the Township of London be received for information; 2. That the Township of London and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario be advised of Council's actions. BACKGROUND AND COMMENT: At an earlier Council meeting, a resolution from the Township of London dealing with Workers' Compensation Board benefits for Volunteer Firemen was referred to staff for investigation and a report to the General Purpose and Administration Committee. Staff have now had an opportunity to consult with appropriate officials at the Workers' Compensation Board as well as to speak with officials from the Township of London with respect to the resolution. The recommendation contained in this report is to receive the resolution which would mean that Council would not endorse the contents of same. This direction is recommended based on the following information. The Workers' Compensation Board advises that there is no difference between the treatment or status provided to a regular fireman versus one that is employed on a part-time basis. Similarly, all other employees enjoy equal status under the legislation. To single out a particular ADMIN. 16 - 86 -2- group for special treatment may lead to similar requests by other groups. Currently employees of the Corporation who suffer heart attacks are not generally eligible for Workers' Compensation benefits. There have in the past number of years been limited exceptions to this interpretation with respect to firefighters suffering a heart attack while at a fire scene. Where the firemen have suffered smoke inhalation which has led to a heart attack or had been subjected to dangerous chemicals that, again, led to a heart attack, the employee has been entitled to benefits. Generally a relationship has been more readily accepted by the Workers' Compensation Board if the firefighter is at the fire scene. The question of expanding Workers' Compensation coverage to cover firefighters is currently under review as the Workers' Compensation Board. If it is decided desirable to extend such benefits to all firemen a change in the Act will be required. Respectfully submitted, ,f David Johnston, M.C.I.P. , Chief Administrative Officer DSJ:nof attached: Township of London resolution G� Communications Direction D - 6 TOX/NSNIP OF LONDON t�, p "!N 15 Medway Road } ARVA,ONTARIO NOM 100 December 10th, 1985. - �° Tel:673-4920 TO: Clerks of all Municipalities in the Province of Ontario having Volunteer Fire Departments. ' Dear Sir/Madam: The Council of the Corporation of the Township of London at its meeting of December 3, 1985, passed the enclosed resolution and would request that you place the resolution before your Council for its consideration and endorsement. If your Council endorses this resolution, it would be appreciated if you would send a copy to the following: - The Honourable David Peterson, Premier of Ontario - The Honourable William Wrye, Minister of Labour - Your local Member of Provincial Parliament - The Association of Municipalities of Ontario - The Rural Ontario Municipal Association - The Township of London Also enclosed herewith is a newspaper story related to the subject matter of the resolution further identifying the problem. Yours very truly, r Albert F. Bannister, A.M.C.T. , Administrator and Clerk, Township of London. AFB/jac Encls'. j "WHEREAS the Workers' Compensation Board make available for purchase through local municipalities the provisions of compensation benefits for volunteer firefighters; AND WHEREAS the Workers' Compensation Board has ruled that the stress of a fire call did not cause a heart attack, therefore, Captain Paul Craig of the Hamilton Township Fire Department was not entitled to Workers' Compensation benefits; AND WHEREAS the majority of the smaller and less populated municipalities provide fire protection using the volunteer firefighters; NOW THEREFORE the Council of the Corporation of the Township of London in the County of Middlesex does hereby petition The Honourable William Wrye, Minister of Labour and the Ontario Government to immediately take steps to provide for Workers' Compensation benefits to be extended to cover heart problems associated with stress generated by fire calls and fire responses in order that the same will include volunteer firemen as well as full-time paid firemen; AND FURTHER that this resolution be circulated to The Honourable David Peterson, Premier of Ontario, The Honourable William Wrye, Minister of Labour, Mr. Doug Reycraft, M.P.P. for Middlesex, The Association of Municipalities of Ontario, The Rural Ontario Municipal Association and all Towns, Villages and Townships in the Province of Ontario having Volunteer Departments for their support and endorsement of this resolution and that the Premier of Ontario, The Minister of Labour, local M.P.P. 's, The Association of the Municipalities of Ontario, The Rural Ontario Municipal Association and the Township of London be notified of their support." i j Q : Ontdrl0 Association of vire Chiefs . The Port Hope Evening Guide. Bewdley Rfirefighter. e w. ns depleted Y .naft'da" I ' mr compens an ation cienied The refusal by the Compensation Board to compen- `:.y. attack,similar to a heart attack, found himself between a rock sate Capt. Paul Crai of the � et� k ' P g ' a. -;;�:.> By BARRY ELLS�i ORTH Hamilton township fire depart- :°«" seconds after leaving the station. and a hard place. mens is nothing short of anation- � '�P x^' Less than five month's after Five fellow firefighters began "The doctors sa the h-A t aIscandaIandaninsulttoallthe narrowly escaping death while applying cardiopulmonary probemwassetoffb t stress dedicated firefighters in voluntarily in such a hazardous responding to a fire alarm,a for- (CPR) resuscitation. Iionical- . erste v t e (fire) call." Canada. service, the WCB should force mer Hamilton township firefigh- ly, it was Craig who had taught Craig said. But the WCB ruled These men and women put the municipalities to provide the ter has been denied disability be- the firemen the lifesaving techni- the stress of the call did not cause their lives on the line everytime necessary coverage. nefits by the Workers' Com- que which saved his own life.Up the heart attack,therefore Craig the call goes out for their assist- It is a disgrace to allow a situs- pensation Board. until the time he was stricken, was not entitled t ance to anyone who is unfortun- tion such as this man's financial Since the municipality has no Craig earned his living instruct- Craig is appealing the sling. ate enough to require their ser- hardship and its related prob- longterm disability insurance ing various organizations in CPR Meanwhile, he said it has "been vice. lems to develop, in view of his and the WCB refuses to pay,Paul classes. a trying experience." The attack suffered by Capt. unselfish service to the Craig has been forced to exhaust . Craig survived, but doctors Doctors have told him not to commun- his savings account to support told him he would be off work for Craig of the Bewdley fire depart- ity. It certainly does not encour- his family while recuperating months. The township applied return to the fire department. ment is as much a fire-related age anyone to join such service, from a heart condition. for WCB benefits for Craig,since which he loves,and that he can't i accident as a fall or any other not knowing when his welfare,or 'm has cost mesmall for- it does not carry longterm dis-nee go back to work until at least injury sustained in the course of that of his family,is in jeopardy tune," Craig said during stele- ability insurance or any form of September. But surprisingly, he fighting a fire. whenever he responds to an doesn't sound bitter. The fact that Hamilton emergency call. phone interview Friday. sickness benefits for part-time township has failed to provide It is high time that the WCB is The problems began for the employees. As a matter of fact,Craig said part-time firefighter last March While waiting for word from he has gone public about his fight their part time employees with taken to task. Suffi---- _ lie 31.Late in the afternoon,the fire the WCB,Craig was forced to dip with the WCB not to try to press- long-term disability insurance pressesre an :.+�tonaf�o�n thud bell sounded in the Bewdleyfire- does not excuse the WCB from forged the W-CB to review its de- into his savings account to keep ure the board into paying be- does hall. his family of three going. Even- nefits to him, but to protect the providing the rightful compensa- cision and �mngn,a S�p�_ The alarm turned out to be a tuall the $5,000 balance was other firefighters. tion. u ra a'c fi.+�.+r,�t inSSeS y In order to provide protection call to a minor tree fire,but it had gone, and the 37-year-old father He said that when the annual for those individuals in the com- Henry A. Rood major ramifications for the six- still coudn't return to work. budget comes up they (the fire- year veteran of the Hamilton Then another blow felled the fighters) will ask (the township( time ty Otho sive freely of their RR 2 township volunteer fire depart- family. for a rider insurance policy to time to scree their community Port Hope . ment. The WCB letter rejecting his cover longterm disability. Craig Captain Craig suffered an claim was dated July 26. Craig concluded.