Membership update: Volunteer Firefighter Tax Credit and Government Awareness Week 2012 (March 12-14)
December 23, 2011CAFC Members,
It has been a remarkable year for the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) and the Canadian Fire Services. As we enter the holiday season, the CAFC wanted to provide you with this special update on some of the work we have been doing with the Government of Canada to ensure the Volunteer Firefighter Tax Credit provides tax relief for the greatest number of volunteers.
The success of the CAFC’s campaign to provide tax relief for the Volunteer Fire Services is a reminder of the importance of the CAFC’s government relations program and, in particular, the CAFC’s annual Government Awareness Week. With this in mind, the CAFC Executive Committee would like to confirm dates for Government Awareness Week 2012:
- Government Awareness Week 2012 will take place at the Sheraton Hotel in Ottawa from March 12th – 14th, 2012.
Please keep these dates available in your calendars. We will be reaching out to members and past participants early in the New Year to confirm your participation in this important CAFC activity. The more CAFC members we can involve in our Government Awareness Week, the stronger the voice of the Canadian Fire Services in Ottawa. If you have any questions or to confirm your interest in participating, please contact the CAFC Government Relations team at Summa Strategies:
Robin MacLachlan, rmaclachlan@summa.ca, 613-235-1400
Katlyn Harrison, kharrison@summa.ca, 613-235-1400
Volunteer Firefighter Tax Credit Update
There has been some confusion about the application of the new $3,000 Volunteer Firefighter Tax Credit that was introduced by the federal government in the 2011 federal budget. While the Canada Revenue Agency published a series of Questions and Answers on their website, it was initially unclear how the eligibility rules would be applied in calculating the required 200 hours of service as a volunteer firefighter. Concerns were raised by Volunteer Fire Departments, CAFC members and our partners that volunteer firefighters in smaller communities might not qualify.
The CAFC led the campaign for tax relief and has continued to work with the federal government to resolve any issues of concern or confusion.
We will be in touch with you early in the New Year once the finalized language is available from the Canada Revenue Agency.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have raised issues and concerns in your community. Working together we have achieved great results in 2011 on a number of priority issues and we have significantly raised our profile with the federal government and the national media.
We are proud to serve as the national voice of the Canadian Fire Services and work constructively with the Government of Canada and our partners in the Fire Services to ensure the safety of Canadians, our communities and our firefighters.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, I would like to wish you, your colleagues, family and friends a happy and safe holiday season as well as a healthy and prosperous New Year.
Sincerely,
Fire Chief Rob Simonds
President, CAFC
The Official Canadian memorial pin developed by The Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation and approved by the CAFC. 
