Local MPs want increased support for volunteer firefighters

Services provided by volunteers should receive greater tax break rewards, they say

There isn’t anyone of any political stripe or level not in favour of giving volunteer firefighters a better tax break, but the federal finance minister has the final say.

The 2024 federal budget will be delivered by Chrystia Freeland April 16 and area politicians and fire chiefs are hoping the current tax break of $3,000 will be more than tripled to support volunteers. Kitchener-Conestoga MP Tim Louis and Cambridge MP Bryan May are calling on Freeland to increase the credits for volunteer firefighting and search-and-rescue volunteers to $10,000.

Louis said volunteers should be rewarded for the job they do. “These are people who are stepping up from our rural communities and dedicating themselves to protect us. I’m hard-pressed to go to an event without seeing firefighters there so, in addition to keeping us safe, they are out there advocating.”

There is a private member’s bill in the House of Commons asking for the increased tax incentive, something Louis said has all-party support.

“I’m in support of the NDP bill. It has Conservative and Liberal support. The issue with it isn’t the wording, it’s the speed. It could take a year or more to pass. That’s why I and others are lobbying to put the increase in this year’s budget.”

Louis recently sent a letter to Freeland in the hope it will be announced next month.

“I’ve been talking to her, her staff, the prime minister, I’ve brought it up as caucus meetings. It’s just the right thing to do. The fact it is nonpartisan, I think, sends a strong, positive signal.”

Oxford’s Conservative MP, Arpan Khanna, is lending his support to the cause.

“Absolutely. Oxford is fortunate to have so many volunteer firefighters serving our community. We rely on them quite heavily and I think if there is anything we can do to support not only their retention but also their recruitment, it will go a long way in running these essential services we need.”

East Zorra-Tavistock Mayor Phil Schaefer is also on board with the proposal.

“Volunteer firefighters and search-and-rescue workers perform extremely dangerous jobs and they merit this increased tax credit,” he said.

“If we could do a little more to support that, we should.”

Schaefer’s thoughts were echoed by township Fire Chief Scott Alexander.

“We are very fortunate here in that we have usually been able to carry a full complement of firefighters, including auxiliary firefighters in training. However, in a lot of areas in Canada, departments are struggling to find new recruits and any incentives that can help with recruitment and retention are welcomed.

“This credit would come with some conditions, the main one being that the firefighter would have to commit to over 200 hours of combined training and response annually to qualify.”

Considering volunteers have responsibilities to full-time jobs and families, Alexander said it would be a gesture of thanks and respect for what these people give back to their community.

“It’s a small ask in return for their commitment.”

Louis said he was honoured to train at the Regional Training Centre in Waterloo last September, something that gave him an even greater appreciation for what firefighters do.

“You always know how hard they work and how committed they are. It was humbling, inspiring and terrifying at the same time. Suiting up and training with them made me appreciate even more what they do for us every day.”

Canada has 90,000 volunteer firefighters who provide essential fire and emergency services to their communities, many of whom pay out of pocket to cover expenses associated with the services they provide.

An additional 3,000 search-andrescue volunteers also offer critical services.

Many of the volunteers pay out of pocket to cover expenses associated with the services they provide