Ontario Hansard - 17-November2004
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS

Ms Laurie Scott (Haliburton-Victoria-Brock): My question today is to the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. Rural communities such as mine depend on double-hatter firefighters. Municipalities in my riding of Haliburton-Victoria-Brock have been clear about the important role these volunteers play in protecting community safety. The firefighters' union is acting in a self-serving manner by threatening these double-hatters. They are threatening the jobs of full-time firefighters who are simply trying to give something back to their communities.

The people who understand the importance of protecting public safety are telling you that these volunteer firefighters are needed, that the small communities don't have the resources to spend the approximately $450,000 a year it takes to have a full-time firefighter. Double-hatter firefighters are some of my community's most dedicated volunteers. They're protecting their communities and bringing needed firefighting expertise to largely volunteer fire services. Minister, will you do the right thing and stand up today to support the right of firefighters to volunteer however they wish?

Hon Monte Kwinter (Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services): As I've said many times before, my primary concern is public safety, and I want to make sure the people of Ontario have adequate fire coverage. Having said that, the issue is one that is being addressed and monitored by the fire marshal. We appreciate the valuable role of volunteers; we support volunteers. But we think the way to handle this is through the collective bargaining process. The fire marshal is monitoring it. If he feels the safety of the people of Ontario is at risk, he will make recommendations to deal with it.

The Speaker (Hon Alvin Curling): Supplementary?

Mr Ted Arnott (Waterloo-Wellington): The member for Haliburton-Victoria-Brock deserves credit for her steadfast support of volunteer firefighters, and in turn for her understanding of this important community safety issue in rural and small-town Ontario.

On March 31 of this year, this minister made a commitment to this House that he would convene another round of mediation, and if that didn't work, he said -- I quote him again -- "I'm going to bring forward legislation." I know this minister to be an honourable member. I know he understands --

Interjections.

The Speaker: I'm going to ask the member to quiet down a bit.

Mr Arnott: I know this minister understands how vital double-hatters are in the communities they serve -- communities they help make safe. I know he's aware of the headline in last Saturday's Kitchener-Waterloo Record that states, "Fire Marshal Sides with Double-Hatters." I know he's aware that Greg Ankenmann, of the Perth East Fire Department and captain of the Shakespeare station, has been forced to quit as a volunteer because of union threats. Captain Ankenmann has written to me saying that these forced resignations, obtained under duress, are "going to jeopardize emergency response in our area and across Ontario," therefore putting public safety at risk.

When will the government listen to the fire marshal, volunteers themselves, the chiefs' association, AMO, 165 municipal councils, and even the Minister of Community Safety and take action to protect --

The Speaker: Thank you. Minister?

Hon Mr Kwinter: In the past, I have commended the member for his efforts and for the diligence with which he has been pursuing this issue. The only thing I have to say to him is that when he was on the government side, he brought forward his private member's bill. Not only did it not pass, but several members of his existing caucus did not support it and most of them didn't even show up to vote. So for him to sit there and condemn me for not dealing with it when his own party would not support it -- I will be taking my direction from the fire marshal. We will make sure that the safety of the citizens of Ontario is protected, and we think the collective bargaining process is the way to go.