The Ontario government is investing more than $746,000 through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) Training Stream to help the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association (OPFFA) deliver advanced survival training across the province.
“Our government will always stand shoulder to shoulder with the brave men and women who have our backs when we need it the most,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “By investing in advanced survival training, we’re protecting our firefighting heroes by providing them the skills they need to stay safe in the most dangerous scenarios.”
The funding will support the Fire Ground Survival Train-the-Trainer program, developed by the International Association of Fire Fighters. Training will be offered in Toronto in October 2025 and in North Bay in winter 2026. Using a “train the trainer” model, participants will be certified to share their knowledge with colleagues across Ontario.
The investment will also cover a tow vehicle and a second training trailer dedicated to northern fire services, making survival training more accessible in remote and rural communities.
Greg Horton, president of the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association, said, “The Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association is proud to stand with Minister Piccini and the Ontario government in delivering this vital Skills Development Fund project. The Fire Ground Survival program equips the men and women who protect our province with the lifesaving training they need to keep communities safe.”
Firefighters face higher health risks due to occupational exposures, with cancer causing between 50 and 60 fatalities annually in Canada, about half of them in Ontario. Through the Working for Workers acts, the province has expanded cancer coverage by removing the age limit for colorectal cancer claims and reducing service time requirements for kidney cancer coverage from 20 to 10 years, the shortest in Canada.
Ontario has more than 33,000 firefighters, including over 12,500 full-time, about 20,000 volunteer and nearly 400 part-time.
Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General of Ontario, said, “Every day, Ontario’s firefighters put their lives on the line to protect our people, homes and communities. Our government is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with them, ensuring they have the training, resources and support they need to make it home safely while continuing their life-saving work of protecting Ontario.”
Since its launch in 2021, the Skills Development Fund has invested $1.5 billion through training and capital streams, helping more than one million workers train for in-demand jobs. In its 2025 budget, the province committed another $1 billion over three years, bringing the total to $2.5 billion.
Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response, said, “Protecting Ontario means ensuring our emergency responders have the training and equipment they need to keep our province safe, practiced and prepared. Our government’s investment in firefighting heroes will not only strengthen Ontario’s emergency response capabilities, but it will also ensure communities are better prepared to respond to local emergencies.”
On July 29, the province opened a $260-million call for project proposals under the SDF Training Stream, with applications due Oct. 1. Previous SDF rounds were supported by labour market transfer agreements between Ontario and Canada, but round six is funded solely by Ontario.
