Ottawa- On Wednesday, NDP MP Gord Johns (Courtenay-Alberni) joined by Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) Board Member Paul Boisonneault, on behalf of CAFC President Ken McMullen, Brian Starkell from Volunteer Firefighters of Canada and Dale Kirsch, President of the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, called on the Liberals to increase the volunteer firefighter and search and rescue tax credit from $3,000 to $10,000.
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.
“Wildfires have been burning through communities all over Canada and destroying land like we’ve never seen before. It’s never been clearer that we need to have the strongest fire force and search and rescue team possible,” said Johns. “But the reality is, that the volunteers we rely on are exhausted. They’re working full-time jobs outside of fighting fires, taking on more paid work to keep up with rising costs, and they just can’t keep volunteering on the side.”