Just hours before the fall legislative session began at 1:00 this afternoon, the Yukon government announced steps it will take to improve the safety of oil-fired burners in the territory.

The government received a report from the Oil-fired Appliances Working Group earlier this fall.

Officials said today the government will develop and implement a public awareness campaign, industry training, and new legislation.

New legislation will be developed that requires building permits for modifications and installations of oil-fired appliances be issued to certified journeyperson oil-burner mechanics.

Certified oil-burner mechanics will not be required for furnace servicing, something cabinet communications staff clarified was important to people in the communities.

There was concern about having to try to find a certified mechanic if a furnace stopped working in the middle of the night at -40.

New legislation will also require that carbon monoxide and smoke detectors be installed in all residences, including rental units.

Community Services Minister Elaine Taylor told the Star today that previously, the detectors were required in homes built in 2005 and afterward by the National Building Code, but the changes will require that they be installed in all homes.

While most provinces require smoke detectors, not many require carbon monoxide detectors, Taylor noted.

The new legislative changes are expected to come forward in the spring.

"We're looking at perhaps a series of legislative and/or regulatory changes from the Fire Prevention Act and its regulations to Building Standards Act through regulations as well, or even looking at the Electrical Protection Act and, of course, the Landlord Tenant Act,” said Taylor.

The public awareness campaign will highlight the importance of maintaining and properly installing home heating systems.

It will also raise awareness of the importance of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

A checklist outlining proper installation, modification and servicing of oil-fired appliances will also be developed.

Scott Kent, the minister of Education who is also responsible for the Yukon Housing Corp., noted the public awareness campaign started during Fire Prevention Week, earlier this month.

The housing corporation will take the lead on the public awareness campaign.

Kent said officials will continue to build on what's already begun in the next few months.

The Education department and Yukon College will team up to develop and implement training for oil-burner mechanic journeyperson certification, improve in-school technical training opportunities in the Yukon, and review and improve training for building inspectors.

Kent said there are currently 15 Yukon residents registered as oil-burner mechanic apprentices through the Yukon Apprenticeship Program.

The college will offer oil-burner mechanic training between May and July 2013 – any apprentices who can't attend or need more advanced training will be able to take training at Ontario's University of Guelph.

There will be financial assistance available for students who have to travel Outside for training, Kent noted.

"We need to increase the number of certified oil-burner mechanics to help build the much-needed capacity in rural communities,” Kent said.

"The training side is going to be an incredibly important piece to making sure that we're able to build that capacity, especially when it comes to rural Yukon.”

The working group, formed last March, was assigned to make recommendations for improving the safety of oil-fired appliances after five people died of carbon monoxide poisoning in a Porter Creek home in late January.

Bradley and Valerie Rusk, their two children, Gabriel, 13, and Rebekah, 11, and Donald McNamee all had high levels of carboxy hemoglobin, a mix of carbon monoxide and hemoglobin in the blood stream. High levels prevent oxygen from being carried through the body.

"We are pleased that the Yukon government has considered input from rural Yukoners and is taking the needs of our communities into account,” said Elaine Wyatt, the president of the Association of Yukon Communities.

"These are important steps that we think will improve public safety, increase awareness that will encourage individual responsibility, and increase local capacity through training opportunities that will benefit our communities.”

Lois Moorcroft, the NDP Justic critic, seemed hesitant to sing the government's praises just yet during an interview this morning.

"The (news) release says that they will do something and they have been saying that they will do something since 2008,” she said.

"There's still no firm timeline on when they will bring forward amendments to legislation, when they deliver training for both existing certified oil burner mechanics for the upgrades that they require and to increase the training opportunities for other Yukon apprentices so that they can have their technical training in the Yukon,” she added.

"These are urgent matters. It's been nine months since the tragic and preventable carbon monoxide deaths in a Porter Creek home.”

Moorcroft said she hopes the education campaign and legislation changes will be implemented quickly.

Her message to the government: "Get on with the job. It's critical; it's a matter of life and death.”