The Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service will receive a portion of the $30-million Ontario Fire Service Grant announced Tuesday by Community Safety and Correctional Services minister Monte Kwinter.
While it is not known how much will be disbursed locally, the money is earmarked for training (both for firefighters here and elsewhere in the district), as well as to boost public awareness of fire safety and purchase new firefighting equipment.
The province has pledged to help Ontario municipalities better protect residents by providing funding to municipal fire departments for training and equipment for the first time in more than 20 years.
“The government is furthering the cause of community safety by ensuring that firefighters in the province have the training and tools they need to do their job and help minimize the risk of personal harm,” Kwinter said in a press release.
“We recognize that municipalities—particularly in rural areas—require additional support to provide high-quality fire protection,” he added. “That’s why we are providing them with this unprecedented one-time funding.”
Funds from the $30-million Ontario Fire Service Grant will be distributed to municipalities’ fire departments to meet training needs and, where appropriate, purchase new equipment.
“This program responds to a real need among fire services across Ontario,” Ontario Fire Marshal Bernard Moyle said. “It provides fire services with the flexibility to tailor the funding for local needs so that they may continue to deliver outstanding service to the people of this province.”
“This funding will enable fire departments across the province to ensure firefighters have the training and equipment necessary to better protect the people of Ontario,” Kwinter said.
The funding formula for the $30-million Ontario Fire Service Grant is based on the population of municipalities as taken from the 2001 census. The focus of the grant will be on training and ensuring that quality training is available on a regional basis.
Small and rural municipalities have a greater funding need because of their lower property and business tax base. Therefore, the per-capita average funding amount favours smaller communities over larger ones while still ensuring all communities receive funding.
Municipalities of 50,000 or less received 71 percent of the funding.
There are 10,452 full-time firefighters, 113 part-time firefighters, and 17,843 volunteer firefighters in Ontario. There currently are 28 full-time fire departments, 159 composite fire departments, and 251 volunteer fire departments.
Ninety-five percent of the fire departments in Ontario are made up of volunteers or have a volunteer component.
The Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 (FPPA) introduced a new framework for fire protection services in Ontario, including specific roles for the province and municipalities.
The FPPA requires municipalities to deliver public education programs and some components of fire prevention, as well as other fire protection services as determined necessary by the municipality’s needs and circumstances.
Firefighter health and safety falls within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Labour, under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Fort Frances Times
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