The Regional District of Nanaimo board has endorsed a proposal to increase the tax credit for volunteer firefighters and search and rescue volunteers.
The RDN will write a letter of support to the federal and provincial governments in favour of a private member’s bill put forward by Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns. Bill C-264 would increase the annual Canadian income tax credit for volunteer firefighters and land and sea search and rescuers from $3,000 to $10,000.
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The City of Parksville, Town of Qualicum Beach and fire departments in the electoral areas have also sent letters of support of the bill that Johns introduced last February. Johns was motivated by the petition signed by thousands of his constituents along with people across Canada calling for the increase to the tax credit.
Under existing tax rules, volunteer firefighters and search and rescue volunteers would have to put in at least 200 hours per year with their local fire department or recognized search and rescue organizations to be eligible for the tax credit.