Ontario Investing Over $368,000 to Strengthen Firefighter Safety in Mississauga
December 12, 2025
Through the Fire Protection Grant, the Ontario government is investing $368,173.77 to support firefighters in Mississauga.
MISSISSAUGA – Today, MPP Silvia Gualtieri joined Mississauga Fire Chief Stephane Malo, Deputy Mayor Matt Mahoney, and City Councillors for the announcement of a major investment through the Ontario government’s Fire Protection Grant program to support firefighter safety and strengthen emergency response in Mississauga.
Through the Fire Protection Grant, the Ontario government is investing $368,173.77 to support firefighters in Mississauga. This funding will protect firefighters with cancer prevention initiatives, equipment to address lithium-ion battery fires and infrastructure upgrades.
“Our first responders run toward danger when everyone else is running away from it, and their health and safety will always be a top priority for our government,” said Silvia Gualtieri, MPP – Mississauga East–Cooksville. “This investment is about protecting the people who protect us. It strengthens cancer-prevention measures, enhances our emergency response capabilities, and helps ensure that the brave men and women of Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services return home safely to their families after every call.”
As part of its plan to protect Ontario and keep communities safe, the Ontario government had increased this year’s Fire Protection Grant funding from $10 million to $20 million.
The grant to Mississauga intends to support two components of the Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services Firefighter Cancer Prevention Program. These include the purchase and installation of four Top Clean Decontamination units, and the purchase of PFAs-free firefighting gloves.
“This grant allows us to invest in advanced decontamination systems and PFAS-free gear, which are essential tools that help us put the safety of our firefighters first and foremost,” said Chief Stephane Malo, Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services. We respond to approximately 30,000 calls a year, that’s about 82 calls a day or one call every 18 minutes, where our firefighters face significant hazards. The funding we receive through this grant is helping safeguard their health while ensuring they can continue providing excellence in fire services.”
Mississauga Deputy Mayor Matt Mahoney said: “On behalf of the City of Mississauga and Members of Council, we thank the Government of Ontario for this investment that will help ensure we continue to provide our firefighters with equipment and technology that helps reduce cancer risks and enables them to respond effectively to emergencies. Our MFES firefighters deal with challenging and at times harrowing response situations, investing in their health and safety also means an investment in the health and safety of our city.”
Ontario government’s Fire Protection Grant is aimed at helping municipal fire departments expand cancer prevention initiatives and improve emergency response to lithium-ion battery related incidents.
This marks the second consecutive year Mississauga has received funding through the program.
Quick Facts
- There are approximately 33,000 municipal firefighters in Ontario. This includes more than 12,500 full-time firefighters, more than 20,000 volunteer firefighters and almost 400 part-time firefighters.
- Firefighters are more likely to experience health problems because of exposure to hazardous chemicals. In Canada, 50 to 60 firefighters die of cancer every year and half of those are from Ontario.
- Ontario’s Working for Workers Six Act, 2024 improved cancer coverage for firefighters, investigators, and volunteers by removing the requirement that a firefighter’s primary-site colorectal diagnosis must be made before the age of 61 and lowering the required duration of service for primary-site kidney cancer care coverage from 20 to 10 years, which is the lowest duration of service in Canada.