A new bill introduced yesterday will make Manitoba the first province in Canada to list breast cancer as a work-related condition associated with firefighters.
Labour Minister Jennifer Howard introduced proposed amendments to the Workers Compensation Act on Tuesday that would add breast cancer, multiple myeloma, primary site prostate cancer and primary site skin cancer to the list of ailments presumed to be caused by firefighting and therefore eligible for workers compensation benefits.
The list already includes 10 other types of cancer.
Once passed, the legislation will make Manitoba the first province in the country to include breast cancer on such a list.
The new law will apply to all full and part-time firefighters in Manitoba, as well as all volunteer firefighters.
