New legislation aimed at protecting firefighters has earned praise in Halifax.

Bill 158, the Fire Safety and Services Act was introduced Oct. 1. If enacted, the legislation would commit the provincial government to create a legislative framework to respond to a range of matters identified in this year’s audit of the Nova Scotia Firefighters School and in a new report from the Fire Service Association of Nova Scotia.

The union representing Halifax’s firefighters issued a statement Thursday regarding the bill.

“We thank (Emergency Management) Minister Kim Masland and (Municipal Affairs) Minister John Lohr, along with the Nova Scotia government, for taking this important step toward implementing the Fire Service review recommendations,” the statement said.

Those recommendations included strengthening governance, improving consistency across the province and putting firefighter health, well-being and modern training first.

“This legislation reflects years of advocacy following the tragic loss of Skyler Blackie and ongoing calls for safer training and stronger governance,” the union’s statement said.

Blackie was killed in 2019 following an exercise at the Nova Scotia Firefighters School.