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.

91裸聊视频淟ast summer, we all saw how devastating the wildfires were. They forced communities to evacuate and people to flee their homes,91裸聊视频� said Johns. 91裸聊视频淚t was the volunteer firefighters and search and rescue responders at the front of this nationwide emergency91裸聊视频攁nd many had to go on leave from their jobs to do it.

91裸聊视频淏eing a volunteer firefighter is entirely at one91裸聊视频檚 own expense, and with how high costs have risen, it91裸聊视频檚 become more difficult for many to do this life-saving work.91裸聊视频�

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 Canada91裸聊视频檚 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. 91裸聊视频淭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,91裸聊视频� said Chief Ken McMullen, president of the CAFC. 91裸聊视频淲e can91裸聊视频檛 do enough for these individuals, but this is a great start.91裸聊视频�

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 91裸聊视频減owerful but precarious91裸聊视频� 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 Johns91裸聊视频� 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 now91裸聊视频攈e usually has a complement of 25 firefighters for his regional district just outside of Port Alberni91裸聊视频檚 city boundaries.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 an acknowledgment of the work being done by volunteers91裸聊视频�in an area where we91裸聊视频檙e getting less and less volunteers,91裸聊视频� Banton said. 91裸聊视频淚t is meaningful.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 not a lot of perks91裸聊视频� for volunteer firefighters or search and rescue members91裸聊视频攖he people who give their time to serve their community, Geddes said. 91裸聊视频淥ften there is a loss of wages when volunteers get called to put out a fire or attend a call.91裸聊视频� 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. 91裸聊视频淔ire chiefs across Canada are all very thankful for this campaign.91裸聊视频�