Re: 'Justice for Bob Shaw; Law recognizes claims that cancer and other illnesses are related to work of fighting fires' (May 4)

This article states the new legislation means eight job-related cancers contracted by full-time firefighters will be presumed to be job-related. I find this deeply concerning since medical statistics have long revealed there are approximately 190 known cancers.

This legislation comes after 10 long years of emotionally excruciating delays faced by the family survivors. Suddenly, as election time approaches, all three parties, in a rare event, approve benefits for our many firefighters and their families. I view these denials and delays of the past by the compensation board as a shameful act, which has been imposed upon all firefighters who risk and give their lives in service to our community.

The truth is that, for decades, the criteria for the Compensation Act orders that any significant part of a workplace impairment, either the physical or psychological loss or abnormality, is covered unless evidence to the contrary is shown.

There is overwhelming case law to support the firefighters' rights to full benefits. At the same time, benefits under the Compensation Act, as in place for decades, have been wrongly denied the living firefighters, as well as those who have died as a result of the exposure to noxious toxic fumes, a direct consequence of carrying out their dangerous responsibilities and commitment to our communities.

The mistreatment of firefighters and their families through these inexcusable delays is a result of the compensation administration's total disregard for the basic premise that a worker is entitled to the benefit of the doubt.

The major barriers are the direct result of the bias of the workers' compensation policy administrators who are in violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms with regard to discriminatory misinformation imposed upon persons with disabilities and their families.