C-224National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting Act
An Act to establish a national framework for the prevention and treatment of cancers linked to firefighting
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on January 31, 2022
- Status
- Became law on June 22, 2023 · S.C. 2023, c. 20
What it does
Creates a national framework on cancers linked to firefighting and names January Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month.
What it does
- Requires the Minister of Health to develop a national framework to raise awareness of cancers linked to firefighting and improve firefighters' access to prevention and treatment.
- Requires the minister to consult provincial and territorial health officials, municipal governments, Indigenous governing bodies, health care professionals, scientists, and firefighting stakeholders.
- Allows the framework to include research, training, screening, data collection, information sharing, and a summary of standards that treat these cancers as occupational diseases.
- Requires the minister to table the framework in Parliament within one year after the Act comes into force and publish it on the Health Canada website.
- Requires the minister to report within five years on the framework's effectiveness and on the state of prevention and treatment.
- Designates January each year as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month throughout Canada.
Who it affects
- Firefighters
- Health care professionals
- Provincial and territorial governments
- Municipal governments
- Indigenous governing bodies
- Firefighting community
Background
The bill gives the Minister of Health the job of developing the framework and sets deadlines for a report to Parliament and a follow-up review. It also creates a yearly awareness month.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Completed.
Introduced by an MP who is not a minister. These bills compete in a lottery for debate time, and most do not become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-224, An Act to establish a national framework for the prevention and treatment of cancers linked to firefighting
Vote 263,
Passed
322 yeato0 nay · 2 paired
Party breakdown for vote 263 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 150 0 8 Conservative Yea 113 0 2 Bloc Yea 32 0 0 NDP Yea 23 0 2 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 2 0 0 Total 322 0 2nd reading of Bill C-224, An Act to establish a national framework for the prevention and treatment of cancers linked to firefighting
Vote 166,
Passed
319 yeato0 nay · 2 paired
Party breakdown for vote 166 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 150 0 9 Conservative Yea 114 0 5 Bloc Yea 29 0 3 NDP Yea 23 0 2 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 1 0 0 Total 319 0
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalSherry Romanado· April 4, 2022
“I am honoured to be standing today in the House to speak about my private member's bill, Bill C-224, an act to establish a national framework for the prevention and treatment of cancers linked to firefighting. Firefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep Canadians and our communities safe, but they also do so when the fire is out.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeChris Lewis· April 4, 2022
“I am going to do my best to get through my speech in support of Bill C-224. I really had a remarkable and emotional weekend, diving into and having so many conversations with so many colleagues from the past.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocMario Simard· April 4, 2022
“To be perfectly honest, this bill puts me in an awkward position. In fact, if I were challenged to find one person who does not like firefighters, it would be impossible to find anyone.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPDon Davies· April 4, 2022
“We must take immediate action to reduce the risk of cancer for Canadian firefighters through improved awareness, prevention, screening and treatment, so this bill has our hearty support.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Royal assent received. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.