NDP secures tax break for volunteer firefighters and search and rescue in Budget

OTTAWA—On Tuesday, NDP MP Gord Johns secured an income tax credit increase for volunteer firefighters and search and rescue personnel, upping the credit from $3,000 to $6,000.

“Last summer, we all saw how devastating the wildfires were. They forced communities to evacuate and people to flee their homes,” said Johns. “It was the volunteer firefighters and search and rescue responders at the front of this nationwide emergency – and many had to go on leave from their jobs to do it. Being a volunteer firefighter is entirely at one’s own expense, and with how high costs have risen, it’s become more difficult for many to do this life-saving work.”

Of Canada’s 126,000 firefighters, more than 90,000 are volunteers, many of whom work in rural fire halls. However, Canada is facing a volunteer firefighter and search and rescue shortage. Fire chiefs report difficulty recruiting and retaining new volunteer firefighters.

In 2021, Johns, working with the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) and the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association to bring forward a bill to help volunteer firefighters and search and rescue teams increase the volunteer firefighter and search and rescue income tax credit. Johns re-introduced the bill again last year.

“If there’s anything we’ve learned with last summer’s wildfires and the early start to this wildfire season, it’s how important firefighters are to protecting the environment and keeping our communities safe,” said Johns. “I’m glad to see that the government took my work on this to make sure that firefighters and search and rescue personnel get the respect and support they deserve.”