BC NDP commits to three-year reviews of firefighter cancer coverage
David Eby pledged on October 21 to review which cancers qualify for presumptive WorkSafeBC coverage every three years, working with BC Cancer and firefighter organizations.
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The BC NDP pledged on October 21 to review which cancers qualify for presumptive WorkSafeBC coverage for firefighters every three years, working with BC Cancer, firefighter organizations, and health officials, according to Voice Online.
Under the current system, when a firefighter develops a recognized cancer that meets eligibility requirements, WorkSafeBC presumes the illness is work-related unless evidence proves otherwise. The NDP says this removes the burden of proving the disease came from the job.
As of March 2026, the province covers 26 cancers under this framework. Eight cancers were added in that March expansion, building on coverage that previously stood at 18. According to the NDP's own announcement, firefighters make up 0.5 percent of the British Columbia workforce but accounted for 35 percent of WorkSafeBC cancer claims filed between 2010 and 2025. Those figures come from the party and have not been independently verified.
The new commitment is a process, not an immediate expansion. A re-elected NDP government would bring together the Ministry of Labour, BC Cancer, WorkSafeBC, the Ministry of Health, medical experts, and firefighter organizations to review coverage on a fixed three-year schedule.
BC NDP leader David Eby said: "Working with firefighters, we are recognizing those risks by adding eight cancers to presumptive coverage this year. We are also reviewing coverage every three years with BC Cancer to ensure new scientific evidence informs our decisions and firefighters continue to have the protections they deserve."
Todd Schierling, the NDP candidate for Delta North and president of the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Association, supported the announcement. "Disease science continues to develop, and we need a regular process to make sure our protections keep up," he said. "Committing to a review every three years means we won't have to wait for firefighters to push for another review when new evidence emerges."
The Firefighters' Health Act already requires an assessment of coverage by April 2027. The NDP says the three-year review process would go beyond that requirement and continue past it.
Voice Online's report does not include a response from the BC Conservatives or the BC Greens on this commitment. voche.me has not found a statement from either party on this specific pledge at the time of writing.
Voters who are firefighters, or who have a family member in the profession, can factor this commitment into their decision before Saturday, October 24, the day of the provincial election.
Questions this story answers
What is presumptive illness coverage for firefighters?
Presumptive coverage means that when a firefighter develops a recognized illness that meets the eligibility requirements, WorkSafeBC presumes the illness is work-related unless evidence proves otherwise. This removes the burden of proving that the cancer came from the job. British Columbia currently covers 26 specific cancers under this framework.
What did the BC NDP announce on October 21?
BC NDP leader David Eby said that if re-elected, the party would conduct a formal review of the presumptive illness coverage list every three years. The reviews would involve the Ministry of Labour, BC Cancer, WorkSafeBC, the Ministry of Health, medical experts, and firefighter organizations. The goal is to update the list as scientific evidence changes, so firefighters do not have to push for reviews each time new evidence appears.
How many cancers are currently covered for BC firefighters?
As of March 2026, British Columbia covers 26 cancers under the presumptive illness framework for firefighters. Eight cancers were added in that March 2026 expansion. The NDP describes this as the most comprehensive presumptive cancer coverage for firefighters in Canada, a claim made by the party and not independently verified.
Who is Todd Schierling?
Todd Schierling is the BC NDP candidate for Delta North and the president of the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Association. He supported the October 21 announcement, saying a regular review process means firefighters will not have to wait and push for a new review each time science produces new findings. His candidate page is at /bc/provincial-2026/candidates/todd-schierling.
Why does firefighter cancer coverage matter?
According to Voice Online's report of the NDP announcement, firefighters make up 0.5 percent of the British Columbia workforce but accounted for 35 percent of all WorkSafeBC cancer claims filed between 2010 and 2025. That figure comes from the NDP's announcement and has not been independently verified. The Firefighters' Health Act already requires an assessment of coverage by April 2027.
Has the BC NDP expanded coverage before?
Yes. In March 2026, the BC NDP added eight new cancers to the list, bringing the total from 18 to 26. The October 21 announcement builds a formal review process so that future scientific evidence gets considered on a set schedule, rather than waiting for an ad hoc push from firefighters each time new findings appear.
What do the other parties say about firefighter cancer coverage?
Voice Online's report of the October 21 announcement does not include a statement from the BC Conservatives or the BC Greens on this specific commitment. voche.me has not found a response from either party at the time of writing.
How does this affect voters in the provincial election?
Voters who are firefighters, or who have a family member in the profession, can consider this commitment when deciding how to vote on October 24. The election is on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Advance voting ended on Wednesday, October 22. For voting information, visit the Elections BC page at /bc/provincial-2026.
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