'We’re taking on workloads that are almost impossible to fill during busy fire seasons,' says Paige Molholland, a former fire management technician with Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services
“What would you pick: a job in fire for $56,000 a year or work in a mine for $115,000 a year working four on and four off?” asks Paige Molholland, a former fire management technician with the Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services.
In a resignation letter to the program’s upper management, Molholland says technicians like herself are absorbing larger responsibilities while receiving the same pay as crew leaders that have fewer duties. As part of her duties, she was a Sector Response Officer, sometimes working upwards of 19 consecutive days for 12 to 16 hours at a time. While she understands it’s what she signed up to do, Molholland feels the work-life balance wasn’t compensated appropriately.
Former Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Judith Monteith-Farrell, an NDP candidate who was recently defeated in the 2022 provincial election, says it's a concern. The Ontario Public Service Employees Union, which represents well over 100,000 employees across a number of public sectors, includes the fire rangers and the MNRF.
In a statement issued to SooToday, a spokesperson with the MNRF says the ministry recognizes the challenges it is facing with staff retention, but explains they're prepared to respond to wildfires in the province.
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