Federal government announces increased firefighter tax credit
The federal government has announced it will be increasing tax credits and providing additional funding and support for volunteer firefighters.
There are over 90,000 volunteer firefighters in Canada who put their lives on the line every single day. Many of them have to pay out of pocket to cover expenses associated with the life-saving services they provide. Right now, they get a tax credit of $3,000 to cover those expenses. In a pre-budget announcement last week, the federal government confirmed that Budget 2024 will propose to double the Volunteer Firefighters Tax Credit and the Search and Rescue Volunteers Tax Credit to $6,000.
Kitchener-Conestoga MP Tim Louis and Cambridge MP Bryan May have been vocal in calling for increased tax credits for volunteer firefighters and search-and-rescue volunteers. The two MPs recently hosted a roundtable with the Region of Waterloo townships' fire chiefs and their mayors in Baden's fire station alongside Longueuil-Charles-LeMoyne MP Sherry Romanado, who is also the parliamentary secretary to the minister of emergency preparedness.
"I was thrilled to hear the announcement of the increased tax credit and supports for volunteer firefighting and search-and-rescue volunteers, which recognizes and rewards their commitment to public service. I will continue to advocate on their behalf, as they continue to protect us all," said Louis.
Those sentiments were echoed by Wilmot Fire Chief Rod Leeson.
“Extremely happy to see the tax exemption increase to $6,000 annually. This is important to further support our valued volunteer firefighters and demonstrate the commitment to protecting the volunteer model. We hope to see this amount further increase in future federal budgets to continue supporting our volunteer firefighters.”
He added his firefighters are encouraged to see support from the federal government and hope to see increased support in future budgets.
Some volunteer departments in Ontario have reached critically low levels of firefighters, which has been at least part of the political push for the improved tax break. Leeson said the Wilmot department isn’t in a similar position, but the move certainly won’t hurt.
“In the past, recruitment was not required annually. Today we see retention as an issue, but recruitment continues to be successful annually. Financial incentives may lead to longer tenure from our volunteer firefighters. This tax credit increase is one tool that should help.”
Leeson also pointed out the importance of volunteers from a financial standpoint and added the work isn’t done yet.
“These decisions take time, however proactive steps are required to maintain the volunteer-firefighter model. This extremely cost-effective model is vital to smaller communities. We have more work to do and appreciate support from the provincial and federal governments.”
During the roundtable discussion hosted at the Township of Wilmot Fire Station 1, the MPs discussed issues important to small-town local firefighting, including an increase of tax credits for volunteer firefighters.
The government believes the increased tax credit will help alleviate a real issue for the Waterloo Region's local townships when trying to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters, a problem East-Zorra Tavistock has been fortunate enough not to have.
Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Wilmot-Tavistock Gazette
