A Vancouver Island NDP MP has secured a tax break for volunteer firefighters and search and rescue members in the 2024 federal Liberal budget.
Gord Johns, from the riding of Courtenay-Alberni, has lobbied for several years to double the tax credit that volunteer firefighters receive in exchange for the hours they log responding to emergency calls.
B次元官网网址淟ast summer, we all saw how devastating the wildfires were. They forced communities to evacuate and people to flee their homes,B次元官网网址� said Johns. B次元官网网址淚t was the volunteer firefighters and search and rescue responders at the front of this nationwide emergencyB次元官网网址攁nd many had to go on leave from their jobs to do it.
B次元官网网址淏eing a volunteer firefighter is entirely at oneB次元官网网址檚 own expense, and with how high costs have risen, itB次元官网网址檚 become more difficult for many to do this life-saving work.B次元官网网址�
The budget document released April 16, 2024 will increase tax credits from $3,000 to $6,000. This will give volunteer responders up to an additional $450 back on their taxes, at an estimated cost to government of $105 million over six years. The credit will start this year.
Across the country, 71 percent of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 126,000 firefighters are volunteer, according to the most recent Great Canadian Fire Census. In 2021 Johns worked with the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) and the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association to bring forward a bill to help fire departments and SAR groups increase the tax credit for volunteers. He re-introduced the bill again in 2023.
The CAFC applauded the decision. B次元官网网址淭his is a strong and meaningful recognition of the essential firefighting and search and rescue personnel that volunteer in our communities every day and particularly during a gruelling wildfire season,B次元官网网址� said Chief Ken McMullen, president of the CAFC. B次元官网网址淲e canB次元官网网址檛 do enough for these individuals, but this is a great start.B次元官网网址�
Over the past two years, fire chiefs, their departments and many others from across the country have generated data, prepared briefs, signed petitions, contacted their MPs, asked municipal councils to pass resolutions and more. Results from the 2023 Great Canadian Fire Census helped paint the B次元官网网址減owerful but precariousB次元官网网址� picture of volunteer firefighter involvement across the country, according to the CAFC. A total of 534 departments from all types submitted data.
Fire chiefs in JohnsB次元官网网址� home riding say the tax benefit will be a good tool for recruitment and retention of volunteers.
Cherry Creek Volunteer Fire Department Chief Lucas Banton is five members down from full strength right nowB次元官网网址攈e usually has a complement of 25 firefighters for his regional district just outside of Port AlberniB次元官网网址檚 city boundaries.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an acknowledgment of the work being done by volunteersB次元官网网址n an area where weB次元官网网址檙e getting less and less volunteers,B次元官网网址� Banton said. B次元官网网址淚t is meaningful.B次元官网网址�
Ucluelet Fire Chief Rick Geddes agreed that the tax benefit will be another tool in his toolbox to retain volunteer firefighters. Geddes is one of two paid members in his department that includes 19 volunteers and room for more.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 not a lot of perksB次元官网网址� for volunteer firefighters or search and rescue membersB次元官网网址攖he people who give their time to serve their community, Geddes said. B次元官网网址淥ften there is a loss of wages when volunteers get called to put out a fire or attend a call.B次元官网网址� In the past labour unions would have it written into their employment contracts that a company would pay wages of anyone called to fight a fire, but there are fewer companies willing to do that, he added.
Volunteers will have to serve a minimum of 200 hours in order to qualify for the tax credit. That can add up quickly for active volunteers, says Geddes.
He thanked Johns for taking the initiative. B次元官网网址淔ire chiefs across Canada are all very thankful for this campaign.B次元官网网址�
