Ontario’s forest fire rangers sounding the alarm

February 27, 2024

QUEEN'S PARK — Ontario Greens Leader and MPP for Kitchener Centre Aislinn Clancy released the following statement in response to calls from Ontario’s forest fire rangers for increased safety measures ahead of the Ontario fire season.

“Ontario’s forest fire rangers put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe – and yet the Ford government refuses to do even the bare minimum for them by classifying them as firefighters so they can access better workplace compensation.

It’s February, and Alberta’s forest fire season is already underway. Ontario is poised for yet another record-breaking season that will once again destroy communities and force thousands of people to evacuate their homes.

Meanwhile, Ontario’s forest fire rangers don’t even have the proper equipment they need to keep themselves safe from carcinogenic toxins and other workplace hazards.

It’s long past time for the government to stop stalling and listen to the needs of the people who work so hard to keep us safe.”

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