British Columbia lawmakers have passed the Firefighters’ Health Act to establish a formal health-care plan featuring early cancer detection and mental health screening for emergency responders.
As reported by CBC News, the bill progressed through the legislature following a successful third reading on Monday and now awaits royal assent from the lieutenant-governor.
Langley-Walnut Grove MLA Misty Van Popta introduced the private member’s bill during the previous legislative session in May 2025.
The passage of an Opposition member’s bill is a rare occurrence in the province.
Van Popta stated that this is only the second instance in more than 40 years where such a bill has successfully passed through the British Columbia legislature.
A similar occurrence took place last year when Jody Toor, the MLA for Langley-Willowbrook, saw a bill regarding perinatal and postnatal mental health care pass third reading.
The new law mandates the gathering of specific data to assess exposure risks faced by personnel during their careers.
This legislative development aligns with a March announcement from the provincial government regarding expanded compensation coverage.
That expansion added eight additional cancers to the list of illnesses eligible for coverage.
Van Popta noted that fire service personnel experience a much higher risk of cancer than the general population.
Van Popta said: “This is the first legislation of its kind in Canada and an important step toward ensuring firefighters receive the support they deserve.
“There’s strong evidence that early detection and screening saves lives.”
