Davies Joins with Fire Fighters in Call for National Office on Fire Statistics

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2010

DAVIES JOINS WITH FIRE FIGHTERS TO ADVOCATE FOR NATIONAL OFFICE ON FIRE STATISTICS
Tracking fire and emergency response statistics will help protect fire fighters and the public

OTTAWA – New Democrat Public Safety Critic Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway) has introduced a Bill aimed at protecting fire fighters and emergency responders by ensuring they have access to accurate and up-to-date fire statistics.

“Our fire fighters and emergency responders put their lives on the line to keep Canadians safe,” said Davies. “As Public Safety Critic, I want them to have all the tools they need to do their job.”

“There is currently no source of comprehensive information on fire damage, fire deaths and emergency response times in Canada. My Bill would make the government track this important information that fire fighters need to keep themselves safe, while they work for the safety of others.”

Bill C-495 proposes the creation of a National Office for Fire and Emergency Response Statistics within Statistics Canada. The Office would track a wide array of fire statistics and produce an annual report to be made available to Parliament, firefighters and the public.

Jim Lee, Assistant to the General President for Canadian Operations for the International Association of Fire Fighters, joined with Davies in support of the Bill.

“Police and law enforcement agencies have access to detailed crime statistics that enables them to do their jobs better,” said Lee. “Our fire fighters need this information too. Without access to even the most basic fire statistics, we cannot properly address the state of fire protection in Canada.”

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For more information, please contact:
Sam Heppell, Office of Don Davies: 613-218-7794 or davied0@parl.gc.ca