Support Your Local Volunteer Firefighters - Send a letter, add your name to the petition and let your friends know about this issue by sending an eCard.

There are roughly 3,492 Fire Departments in Canada. 91% of them are staffed by volunteer firefighters. Volunteer firefighters make up more than 78% of the 108,000 firefighters protecting communities nation-wide.

Volunteer firefighters are becoming harder to find and harder to keep. Once recruited, it takes approximately three years to properly train a volunteer firefighter and many do not stay on past five years of service. The lack of reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses, inadequate equipment and resources, and the time spent away from families make it difficult to attract new volunteer firefighters and to retain existing volunteers.

The Government of Canada can play a vital role in solving the problems recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters. From a survey of its members, the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) reports that over 95% stated that personal income tax relief would help them recruit new volunteers and retain those that have already been trained. That is why Canada’s Fire Chiefs are proposing the introduction of a $3,000 tax credit for volunteer firefighters who perform more than 200 hours of service in a given year.

Show your support.

• Sign the Petition
• Write your MP
• Send an eCard