Courtenay-Alberni MP Calling On Liberals To Raise Volunteer Firefighter Tax Credit

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns is calling on the Liberals to support a bill to raise the volunteer firefighter tax credit from $3,000 to $10,000.

With increasing costs, many volunteer firefighters and search and rescue volunteers are stepping down, and it has become more difficult to find new volunteers, jeopardizing Canada’s efforts to fight wildfires for years to come.

The hundreds of fires raging across Canada have put intense strain on volunteer firefighters – who make up more than 70 per cent of Canada’s firefighting efforts.

Johns says the reality is that the volunteers we rely on are exhausted - many working full-time jobs while also fighting fires.

Of Canada’s 126,000 firefights, more than 90,000 are volunteers, many of whom work in rural fire stations. 

In 2021, Johns brought forward a bill to help volunteer firefighters and search and rescue teams with growing costs and encourage retention and hiring, by increasing the volunteer firefighter and search and rescue tax credit. Johns re-introduced the bill again last winter.

The Courtenay Volunteer Fire Department is looking for new recruits. They held an open house at the firehall last night and are accepting applications as they look for around 12 new recruits.

The deadline to get your application to start training in September is tomorrow. 

For more information visit Courtenay Fire Department or call 250-334-2513.