Lobby issues 

The Alberta Professional Fire Fighters & Paramedics Association takes great pride in representing professional firefighters, paramedics, and dispatchers in 21 communities across Alberta and the North West Territories. Each year, the APFFPA holds its annual Legislative Conference and attends the IAFF's Canadian Legislative Conference in an effort to advocate for frontline members. By meeting with elected officials, our goal is to convey the issues that our members face, while working towards achievable solutions. 

Over the last few years, our lobby issues have centred around:

• Finding real solutions to Alberta's EMS crisis 
• Providing all firefighters that worked on the Fort McMurray Fires presumptive WCB cancer coverage should they receive a cancer diagnosis
• Inclusion of the occupation of Fire Fighter as a data collection point for the Alberta Cancer Registry to act as a baseline for much needed data surrounding occupational cancer diagnoses amongst Alberta firefighters

Through the APFFPA's lobby efforts, we hope to:

• Gain access to key information on wages, benefits and working conditions to use in negotiations, arbitration and other meetings with local decision-makers
• Work with partners in labour to lobby for employment rights
• Provide up-to-date online resources to address and assist with issues and challenges facing affiliates and members
• Provide assistance developing union messages and communications to members, the media, elected officials, decision-makers and the public
• Provide financial assistance for small locals to attend educational training and conferences
• Work with the provincial government to recognize and improve firefighters’ health and safety for all of Alberta’s professional firefighters