OTTAWA — New Democrats are calling on the federal government to increase the tax credit for volunteer firefighters as they combat wildfires raging across the country.
MP Gord Johns held a news conference on Parliament Hill Wednesday alongside Paul Boissonneault, a board member from the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, to call for an increase to the volunteer firefighter and search and rescue tax credit from $3,000 to $10,000.
Johns introduced a bill in the House of Commons late last year to make the change.
"The federal government (has) found billions of dollars to help make economic development investments across the country," Johns said.
"They should be able to find $30 million for the 90,000 plus volunteers right now."
Volunteer firefighters and search and rescue volunteers are currently eligible for the tax credit if they have completed 200 hours of service.
The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs says volunteers made up 70 per cent of firefighters in the country last year.
But the number of volunteers has been decreasing in recent years, adding to the personnel shortage facing firefighting services.
Boissonneault, who is the fire chief in Oakville, Ont., says fire services across the country are facing a shortage of about 15,000 volunteers.
"I dare say that we are in a crisis, because trying to maintain well-trained, well-prepared and ready-to-respond firefighters and search-and-rescue personnel is probably at an all time biggest challenge right now," Boissonneault said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2023.
Nojoud Al Mallees, The Canadian Press
