MISSISSAUGA FIRE RECEIVES $368,000 PROVINCIAL GRANT TO ADVANCE FIREFIGHTER CANCER PREVENTION
City’s second consecutive year of funding will support decontamination systems and PFAS-free protective gear
Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services (MFES) will receive more than $368,000 from the Government of Ontario through the Fire Protection Grant program, providing a significant boost to the city’s ongoing efforts to protect firefighters from occupational cancer and enhance emergency response capabilities.
The announcement was made on December 12 by Silvia Gualtieri, Parliamentary Assistant to the Solicitor General and MPP for Mississauga East–Cooksville, alongside Deputy Mayor Matt Mahoney and Mississauga Fire Chief Stephane Malo.
This marks the second straight year Mississauga has secured funding through the program. The investment directly supports MFES’s Firefighter Cancer Prevention Program, which focuses on minimizing exposure to carcinogenic contaminants and improving the quality of life-saving protective equipment.
Strengthening Cancer Prevention for Frontline Firefighters
The newly awarded funding will allow MFES to purchase advanced decontamination units designed to remove harmful substances from firefighting gear and equipment. These units play a critical role in reducing exposure to cancer-causing contaminants—one of the leading occupational risks facing firefighters.
MFES will also acquire PFAS-free personal protective equipment (PPE). PFAS chemicals, commonly found in firefighting foam and gear, have been linked to increased cancer risk. Transitioning to PFAS-free alternatives aligns with national and international efforts to eliminate these substances from emergency response environments.
Growing Provincial Support for Fire Services
Ontario launched the Fire Protection Grant program in 2024 and expanded it in 2025 to help municipal fire services strengthen cancer-prevention measures and improve response to emerging hazards such as lithium-ion battery fires.
The province emphasized that the goal is not only to safeguard firefighters’ long-term health but also to bolster frontline capacity across growing urban communities like Mississauga.
What Leaders Said
The news release included several verified statements:
Silvia Gualtieri, MPP for Mississauga East-Cooksville, said the investment “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.”
Deputy Mayor Matt Mahoney added that supporting firefighter safety is also “an investment in the health and safety of our city.”
Fire Chief Stephane Malo noted that MFES responds to roughly 30,000 calls per year—about 82 per day—underscoring the importance of modern equipment to protect firefighters in high-risk scenarios.
Source: City of Mississauga News Release, December 12, 2025
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