Bill C-310 is currently working its way through the House of Commons. If passed, volunteer firefighters and search and rescue personnel will receive an increased tax credit, from $3,000 to $10,000. Many of our neighboring municipalities rely heavily on volunteer firefighters, and this bill would help to attract and retain volunteers.
Gord Johns, an NDP MP representing Courtenay-Alberni in British Columbia, put forward the bill. The first reading of that bill took place in December 2022. BayToday contacted Johns to see how things are coming along.
“We’re hoping it’s going to be in the budget,” this year, he said. “We’ve had over 165 communities throughout Canada” send letters of support for the bill, municipalities “from almost every territory and province.”
Those letters, coupled with an electronic petition with over 16,000 signatures, were brought to the House of Commons as well. The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs also supports the bill, Johns added.
“I tabled it at the House yesterday,” Johns said, referring to the January 30th session. “In the coming days,” he added, “literally dozens of petitions” supporting the bill will arrive at the House of Commons. These are the hard-copy petitions that circulated throughout various municipalities.