The hundreds of fires raging across Canada have put intense strain on volunteer firefighters – who make up more than 70 per cent of Canada’s firefighting efforts.
Of Canada’s 126,000 firefights, more than 90,000 are volunteers, many of whom work in rural fire stations. But Canada is facing a volunteer firefighter and search and rescue shortage. Fire chiefs report having difficulty finding and retaining new volunteer firefighters. From last year, there’s been a 10 per cent decrease in the number of volunteer firefighters in Canada.
That's why I brought forward a motion to help volunteer firefighters and search and rescue teams with growing costs and encourage retention and hiring, by increasing the volunteer firefighter and search and rescue tax credit.
You can read the full text of the motion here: M-91 Volunteer firefighters and search and rescue participants 44th Parliament, 1st Session - Members of Parliament - House of Commons of Canada