| MPP
Arnott Raises Double Hatter Fire
Fighter Issue with Premier in Question Period
Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott questioned Premier
Dalton McGuinty about double hatter fire fighters in
the Ontario Legislature on December 18th, 2003. Mr.
Arnott asked the Premier if the Government will take
legal steps to protect double hatter fire fighters from
union pressure that forces them to quit as volunteer
fire fighters or risk losing their full time jobs.
The
following is their exchange in the Legislature as recorded
by Hansard:
Mr
Ted Arnott (Waterloo-Wellington): My question is for
the Premier and it concerns double-hatter firefighters.
Double-hatter firefighters typically work as full-time
professional firefighters in the city and serve as volunteer
firefighters in their home communities, small towns
nearby. In some cases, I'm told that these firefighters
are being pressured by their union leadership to quit
as volunteers or face charges by a union tribunal. If
they are convicted of volunteering by their union, they
are at risk of being expelled from the union and losing
their full-time jobs.
A
few days ago, I received a letter from Fire Chief Tim
Bond of the Kemptville fire department, who says he
lost a volunteer firefighter due to pressure from the
union, and he fears the loss of more firefighters if
nothing is done to protect them. Is the Premier aware
of this problem in eastern Ontario and, if so, what
will he do to protect the rights of firefighters to
volunteer where they live and on their own free time?
Hon
Dalton McGuinty (Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental
Affairs): I thank the member for his question. I know
he has a very sincere interest in this issue. As he
knows, municipalities are responsible for the provision
of fire protection services and are required to maintain
adequate and effective fire departments. We believe
that volunteer firefighters are vital to the provision
of fire services in many Ontario communities.
I
am aware, as the member was asking, that several two-hatter
fighters are being asked by their associations to resign
from their volunteer positions. The ministry is committed
to working with all of the stakeholders to find a fair
and acceptable solution to this issue. The ministry
will seek a mediated settlement. If a mediated settlement
is not possible, we may need to look at putting a regulation
in place.
Mr
Arnott: I thank the Premier for that answer. In 2002,
the problem was raised with me, and I addressed it by
introducing Bill 30, the Volunteer Firefighters Employment
Protection Act. All of the major stakeholder groups,
save and except the union leadership, supported my bill
and the need to protect the employment rights of double-hatters.
In spite of the fact that two thirds of the government
caucus supported Bill 30 at third reading in a free
vote one year ago, the Liberal caucus was officially
opposed to the bill and it was defeated.
After
the debate on Bill 30, the former government commissioned
the Honourable George Adams, a highly respected and
retired judge, to bring the stakeholders together for
discussions and make recommendations. The Adams report
recommended that the provincial government should take
legal steps to protect double-hatters in certain communities
and circumstances. Despite that report, the union president,
Fred LeBlanc, recently told the Guelph Mercury that
volunteer firefighters should be replaced by full-time
professionals in communities across Ontario.
It
appears that the effort to phase out volunteers is being
ramped up under this government because the union believes
the Liberals will turn a blind eye to this problem.
Is the Premier prepared to take the legal steps outlined
in the Adams report to protect these volunteer firefighters
and, if not, how many more volunteer firefighters is
the Premier prepared to lose on his watch because of
union pressure tactics?
Hon
Mr McGuinty: I say again to the member opposite that
the ministry is genuinely committed to working with
all the stakeholders involved to find a fair solution
to this matter. We're going to seek a mediated settlement.
On
top of that, it's also our understanding that the fire
marshal has directed fire departments to do a couple
of things: first of all, determine the number of career
firefighters who are withdrawing their services as part-time
or volunteer firefighters and, secondly, to assess the
potential impact on fire protection services at the
provincial or local level. I expect the fire marshal
will report back to the minister on the information
he receives from the fire services. In the meantime,
the fire marshal continues to monitor the situation
and the ministry itself remains committed to ensuring
we can find a mediated settlement.
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