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
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.