Nanaimo regional district calls for increase to tax exemption for volunteer firefighters, search and rescue
The Regional District of Nanaimo will submit resolutions to the Union of B.C. Municipalities and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities calling for an increased tax exemption for volunteer firefighters and search and rescue personnel.
The resolutions to each respective body were passed by the board of directors May 23 and call for the B.C. government to raise the tax credit from $3,000 to $10,000 and the federal government's tax exemption to the same.
"Firefighters that qualify for a tax credit receive a maximum of $2.25 per volunteer hour and increasing this tax credit would allow these essential volunteers to keep more of their hard-earned income from their main employment, likely benefiting the communities in which they live," the resolution to the FCM says.
"To go full time such as Nanaimo is great for the firefighters, but it comes at a great cost to the municipalities so I just think it would be a really nice thank you to the men and women who serve in these roles," director Sean Wood of Parksville, who introduced the motion, said.
Currently, to claim the $3,000 volunteer firefighters' amount or search and rescue volunteers' amount, a volunteer must have completed at least 200 hours of eligible services in a year.
Training hours completed by volunteer firefighters alone represent a “significant commitment on behalf of our community,” board chair Vanessa Craig said.
The 100,000 volunteer firefighters in Canada account for 80 per cent of the country's total firefighting first responders, according to the resolution while 9,000 search and rescue volunteers respond to incidents annually.
On Gabriola Island, there are currently 38 firefighter positions, but the B.C. Office of the Fire Commissioner recommends 40. The BC Search and Rescue Association, which represents ground search and rescue, says there are 3,400 volunteers across the province.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.