| MPP
Arnott Continues with Bill to Protect
Volunteer Firefighters While Union Threatens
to Fight it to the Supreme Court
Even though the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association
union is threatening legal action against his Private
Member's Bill, Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott says
he will continue to push for its passage into law.
Mr.
Arnott's Bill 30, the Volunteer Firefighters Employment
Protection Act, was debated in the Ontario Legislature
on June 6th. It passed Second Reading after a close
vote of 32-28. Bill 30 has been referred to the Standing
Committee on Justice and Social Policy.
If
passed into law, Bill 30 would protect the right of
full-time firefighters to volunteer as firefighters
in their home communities. In some cases, these so-called
"double hatters" are being charged or threatened
with being charged by their union, which is engaged
in a campaign to phase out volunteer firefighters who
are double hatters. These charges could lead to dismissal
from the union, which could then result in the loss
of their jobs.
The
Fire Fighters Association of Ontario (the association
of volunteer firefighters), the Association of Municipalities
of Ontario, and Municipalities across the province have
contacted MPPs and Mr. Arnott to express their support
for Bill 30.
Mr.
Arnott's Bill has been challenged by the Ontario Professional
Fire Fighters Association. The union of full-time firefighters
recently issued an urgent memo threatening to fight
Bill 30 all the way to the Supreme Court. To finance
what they refer to as the beginning of their fight,
the union will levy a $6 charge on every member. The
union indicated in the memo that they are "phasing
out" firefighters who serve their communities as
volunteers.
"This is an extraordinary degree of opposition,
however, I have absolutely no intention of withdrawing
this Bill. I believe that we need public hearings on
Bill 30 as soon as possible," Mr. Arnott declared.
On
June 27th, Mr. Arnott sought the support of the Legislature
to move a motion to initiate public hearings on the
Bill during the summer recess. Liberal and NDP MPPs
present denied their consent. Now the earliest that
hearings can commence is in the fall.
"Municipalities
and volunteer fire departments in Waterloo-Wellington
and around the province say that the double hatters
need to be protected. I agree. This Bill is about maintaining
public safety by protecting the right of firefighters
to be volunteers in their home communities," he
said.
"The
Association of Municipalities of Ontario, their President
Ann Mulvale, and staff have been instrumental in bringing
about support for Bill 30 from municipal councils from
across this province. I encourage municipalities and
volunteer fire departments, if they support my Bill,
to express their support in writing if they have not
done so already," he added.
The
President of AMO has written to all MPPs before and
after Second Reading. AMO supports Bill 30 for reasons
including the need to safeguard public safety and the
democratic right of municipalities to decide how these
protective services should be provided and at what cost
to the taxpayers.
In
a letter to Ontario Fire Marshal, Bernard Moyle, AMO
President Ann Mulvale said: "AMO feels the most
appropriate way to deal with this labour issue is the
passage of Bill 30, the Volunteer Firefighters Employment
Protection Act, 2002."
Mr.
Arnott invites anyone who supports Bill 30 to address
their support in writing to: Tom Prins, Clerk, Standing
Committee on Justice and Social Policy, Room 1405 Whitney
Block, Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M7A 1A2, phone:
(416) 325-3505 or fax: (416) 325-3509.
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