The Order in Council 532-2025 officially approves amendments to the Regulation respecting occupational diseases under the Act respecting industrial accidents and occupational diseases. The amendment process followed the legislative framework, beginning with the authority granted to the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) under paragraph 1 of section 454.1 of the Act. This section empowers the Commission to determine, by regulation, diseases that qualify for presumptive recognition as occupational diseases under section 29 of the Act. The presumption allows that if certain conditions are met—such as duration of exposure or type of work performed—the disease is considered to have arisen from the individual’s work without the need for further proof.

The main focus of the amendment is to expand the list of diseases recognized as occupational under Schedule A, Division VIII of the regulation, specifically targeting cancers linked to firefighting. Six types of cancer—brain cancer, colorectal cancer, leukemia, esophageal cancer, breast cancer, and testicular cancer—have been added to the list, each with specific qualifying criteria. These criteria include the nature of the work and the minimum duration of employment.

The regulation specifies that to qualify for the presumption of an occupational disease, individuals must have performed work involving exposure to gas and smoke during fire suppression activities or subsequent operations such as clearing or investigation. The affected individuals must also be current or former full-time or part-time operational firefighters employed by a city or municipality. For brain, breast, and testicular cancer, the diagnosis must occur after at least 10 years of such employment. Colorectal and esophageal cancer require a minimum of 20 years of exposure, while leukemia requires only five years. These additions are based on established scientific and epidemiological evidence linking prolonged exposure to combustion products during firefighting to increased cancer risks.

According to the National Framework on Cancers linked to Firefighting (2024) “Cancer accounts for more than 85% of duty-fatality claims, based on workers’ compensation claims data, among Canadian firefighters (AlHajj et al. 2024). Firefighters have a 9% higher risk of cancer diagnosis, and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer than the general public (Daniels et al. 2014). There is sufficient evidence to conclude that firefighting causes mesothelioma and bladder cancer, and limited evidence that it causes colon cancer, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, melanoma of the skin, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (IARC 2023).”

By formally recognizing these conditions as occupational diseases for firefighters, the regulation facilitates access to compensation and medical support for those affected, acknowledging the unique health hazards of firefighting. This amendment is intended to improve occupational health protections for high-risk professions and is in response to growing advocacy from firefighters’ associations and public health experts.

Quebec (532-2025) April 16, 2025
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