Federal government considers tax break for volunteer firefighters
North Cowichan South End firefighter Daryl Campbell hoses down the hot spots during a brush fire in August
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Luring and keeping volunteer firefighters may get a tad easier if the government agrees to a proposal by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs.
The group met with the fed’s finance committee last week to explain the problems associated with recruiting and hanging on to the volunteer crews.
Dave Balding, chief of the Malahat Volunteer fire department, said anything that could help the situation would be welcomed.
“We absolutely need a lot of things and that can only help the situation — it’s needed more than ever,” he said.
“There are challenges to getting and keeping volunteers and while the situation is not critical, it could get there.”
Members of the CAFC made their submission — titled Protecting Canadians and Their Communities — in advance of the 2010 budget with the hope the federal government will grant tax relief or credits.
In a written submission, the CAFC stated: “Despite the huge spectrum of reasons why volunteer fire departments are experiencing problems in recruiting and retaining members, personal income tax relief is viewed almost universally as the vehicle to best help address them.”
As first reported February in the News Leader Pictorial, local fire chiefs were concerned — as were their counterparts across the country — with shrinking complements of volunteer crews due to various reasons that include living in one community while working in another.
During its presentation, the CAFC did not specify an amount of credit or relief it seeks, but in the past it has asked for as much as $3,000, based on 200 hours of service and training per year.
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