First responders with PTSD helped by Tory bill

A report on an opposition bill,whichstreamlines the process forworkers' compensationfor New Brunswick first responders suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, was on the agenda at an in-camera legislative committee meetingThursday.

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The legislature'sLaw Amendments Committee discussed the impact of Bill 15,introduced by Gagetown-PetitcodiacPCMLA Ross Wetmore.

'Bill 15 will give first responders the time and breathing room they require to be able to work though theirPTSDand once again become contributing members of the community.'- Angela Gevaudan

Wetmore says the work of paramedics, firefighters, sheriffs and police officers is critical andmust be recognized.

"New Brunswick can join the ranks as a leader in respecting the rights of first responders," he said.

Under the amendment to the Workers' Compensation Act, it would be presumed that PTSDdiagnosedin anyfirst responder is work-related, and therefore covered under WorkSafeNB.

Currently, first responders have to prove that their condition is work-related to receive workers' compensation for PTSD.

'Ihave two sons who are firefightersso I know what effectPTSDcan have.'- Ross Wetmore, Gagetown-Petitcodiac MLA

"I have two sons who are firefighters, a daughter-in-law who is a paramedic and another daughter-in-law who served two tours in Afghanistan, so I know what effectPTSDcan have on first responders and their families," Wetmore said.

PTSDis already covered underWorkSafeNB policy, andWetmoresaid hedoesn't anticipate the amendment would have a significant impact on employer premiums, or the number of successful claims.

Wife of fallen RCMP officer supportsBill 15

Angela Gevaudan, who lost her husband Cst.FabriceGevaudan in the June, 2014 RCMP shootings in Moncton, is speaking out in support of the amendment.

She says it would be a "huge step" in the right direction to help first responders.

"I've spent time with people who are losing their homes because they can no longer work due to their struggles with PTSD,people whose families fall apart because they are not getting the help they need to work through this, people who attempt suicide because they can't erase what they have seen, and even worse," Gevaudan wrotein a letter to the provincial government.

She says people with PTSD often go back to work too soon,without adequate compensation.

"Bill 15 will give first responders the time and breathing room they require to be able to work though their PTSD, and once again become contributing members of the community," said Gevaudan.

Alberta was the first province to enact such a law in 2012, and Wetmore says Manitoba has followed with similar legislation.

"These men and women stand ready to put their lives at risk when we need them, and we need to respond to them when they need help," said Wetmore.