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Toronto Firefighters Say Budget Cuts will Endanger Lives

Posted By: Suzette Francis · 1/9/2013 11:46:00 AM

Toronto's firefighters are speaking out against proposed budget cuts by the city that would see fewer fire trucks on the road and leave more than one hundred frontline positions permanently vacant.

The President of the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters' Association (TPFFA) says the planned cuts in resources will endanger lives.

"Put simply, these cuts will impact our ability to protect the people of Toronto," said Ed Kennedy, at a news conference on Wednesday morning to alert the public to the proposals included in the 2013 Operating Budget.

Kennedy says the city already has a failing grade in meeting the National Fire Protection standards and a reduction in resources would only make the situation worse.

The City's draft budget calls for the closing of Fire Station 424 in the Runnymede area, for taking five frontline trucks out of service in Scarborough, High Park, Etobicoke and Riverdale (combined, the trucks responded to 6,344 emergency calls in 2011) and for the permanent elimination of 101 front-line positions.

The Budget Committee made its final recommendations on the proposals on Tuesday and will go before the City's Executive Committee on Thursday, before being voted on voted by Council next week.

If passed, Kennedy says the response times will increase across the city.

Kennedy made his remarks in front of 57 Huron Street, the scene of a fatal fire in October 2011, in which he says crews were delayed due to short-staffing.

The TPFFA has launched an awareness campaign on the proposed budget measures, and is encouraging the people to contact their Councillors to express their opposition to unnecessary budget cuts.

Meanwhile, the TPFFA is calling on the City to conduct its due diligence and assess the potential impact on resident safety, and on the protection of property.

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  1. proton posted on 01/09/2013 01:32 PM
    lives are already endangered because of fiscal mismanagement. The best thing the city can do to address concerns about staffing for police and firefighters is to stop sending THREE services to every 911 call. It's an absolute waste of resources in most cases.

    Don't expect the police or firefighters unions to bring it up though
  2. ReneB posted on 01/09/2013 02:47 PM
    Why not cut firefighter exhuberant salaries? If you look at the sunshine list, in every city firefighters are one of, if not the most common occupation. In some cities fire chiefs make nearly double that of mayors. And anyone that thinks they are underpaid should apply to take the firefighters test and see just how many people want to become firefighters. The gross excess demand for these jobs in itself implies a lack of monetary balance.
  3. Archie posted on 01/09/2013 04:03 PM
    People always seem to complain about Firefighter wages when it doesn't affect them. However, when your house is on fire, or you're trapped in your car because a drunk has slammed into you or your child is lifeless after being hit by a car and the ambulance is delayed due to being held hostage at a hospital waiting to off load a patient..people want a professional Firefighter there and fast, No delays, no excuses and be prepared to do what it takes to save a life and possible your home. How do you put a price tag on that? Firefighters see and do things people don't want to admit exists in our world. They see death, are exposed to things that ruin their own health and their families. Cancer is huge among Firefighters and yet you want to complain? Make cuts? They are paid for what they do to protect, to make safe and do things ordinary people don't dare do. Think about that the next time you see a flag draped casket being paraded through town, or when you go by Queens Park and see the bronze monument with hundreds of names on the wall. These people deserve every penny they take home and every penny spent to make their jobs safer. They do their jobs safer and it makes our lives better, Think about it!
  4. rob smith posted on 01/09/2013 04:17 PM
    Honestly the vast majority of their suppression firefighters make 78g's a year but it's on a contract that is now 3 years overdue. In the US the firefighters get paid a little over half that, pretty much similar in many countries around the world. (their currency consider as well)

    If they cut the salaries less then $2'000 a firefighter, Toronto would be able to hire the 100+ guys. Please don't give me "but Hamilton or Brampton makes 84 thousand approximately a yr." Do Air Canada pilots make exactly the same West jet? Do patent lawyers make the same as criminal attorneys? NO! It's a different business situation and Toronto is in a different situation than other cities.

    If the fire fighter's really cared about the public, and having fully staffed people on their team, they would gladly take a cut to keep the safety at a max. BUT they won't! They will take 2 contract raises and work shorthanded any day.
  5. Tony Araujo posted on 01/09/2013 05:07 PM
    When does the Aesop fable end at the Toronto Professional Firefighters Association?

    The Facts on Resident Safety

    Number of Fire Fatalities - lowest since 2003
    Number of Fires - never been lower - ever
    Response Times - 52 seconds faster than 2003

    The Facts on Firefighter Safety

    Firefighter Lost Time Accidents - Lowest since 2004
    Firefighter WSIB Lost Time Days - Lowest since 2004

    All of this good safety news was accomplished with a fire service that had 68 vacant firefighter positions in 2011 and 126 vacant positions in 2012.

    What's to be frightened about other than Ed Kennedy?
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