{"id":151874,"date":"2024-03-22T10:50:15","date_gmt":"2024-03-22T14:50:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/rwddev\/?p=151874"},"modified":"2024-03-22T10:51:30","modified_gmt":"2024-03-22T14:51:30","slug":"smith-announces-additional-incentives-for-wildland-firefighters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/smith-announces-additional-incentives-for-wildland-firefighters\/","title":{"rendered":"Smith announces additional incentives for wildland firefighting efforts"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/broadstreet-zone><\/strong><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Minister for Natural Resources and Forestry and Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith announced yesterday that the Ontario government will invest $5 million to attract, retain and recognize wildland firefighting staff for the 2024 fire season to protect people and communities across the province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recognition of the critical services wildland firefighters and pilots perform amid challenging and often dangerous conditions, an attraction and retention incentive payment of up to $5,000 will be provided to employees in front-line fire, aviation and critical support positions to support the 2024 fire season, according to the Ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWildland firefighting staff work tirelessly under very difficult conditions to protect the health and safety of Ontarians, their property and our natural resources. This is a respected and challenging career in our natural resources sector,\u201d said Smith. \u201cIn addition to this incentive, we continue to explore longer-term strategies and solutions to support attraction and retention of critical jobs for future years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than 1,000 front-line wildland fire rangers and aviation crew members are eligible to receive this attraction and retention incentive. These crews are challenged with the critical work of detecting and fighting fires both on the ground and in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the up to $5,000 given to front-line firefighting staff, in recognition of the valuable support they provide, all other OPSEU-represented support staff in the Aviation Forest Fire and Emergency Services Branch at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry will receive a one-time payment of up to $1,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a press release issued by the Ministry, it also noted that it will be expanding eligibility for standby and on-call pay, reimbursing eligible expenses related to training and other mandatory courses, providing up to $500 annually towards the cost of special safety boots and actively marketing summer job and career opportunities in this important public safety program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government said it is also taking action to support the wildland fire program with the creation of more than 100 permanent positions to meet the demands of escalated and increasingly complex fire seasons. These positions will contribute to building leadership and experience within our wildland fire program by adding new year-round positions that will support career path opportunities for fire rangers and other staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith made the announcement on March 21, 2024. You can view the announcement below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n