City to pursue firefighter tax breaks
Parksville is looking to help volunteer firefighters get an income tax break.
Councillor Marc Lefebvre is bringing a motion to council asking them to send a resolution to the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in September to continue to lobby the provincial and federal governments to provide a “meaningful” tax exemption for volunteer emergency responders.
The UBCM has lobbied for tax incentives several times since 1998 and polls have found a large majority of Canadians support the idea.
Parksville Chief Doug Banks previously said it would be another incentive that would help them recruit and keep volunteers.
The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs estimates a $3,000 exemption would save individuals $450 and cost the government $25 million a year in lost revenue.
The motion will come back to council in the near future.
writer@pqbnews.com
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