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Fire Chiefs will continue to advocate for community safety, training, equipment and ask Federal Government to increase volunteer tax credit  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Federal Budget 2023 is understandable given the fiscal constraints described for this year”, says Chief Ken McMullen, President of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, “but Canada will still need to reckon with serious issues in fire and emergency response capacity”.

Over the past year, CAFC released a study showing that over 40% of the country’s fire departments are deferring equipment and training due to fiscal pressures. It also showed that of a diminishing number of volunteer firefighters, from 126,000 in 2016 to 90,000 in 2022, over 30% are over the age of 50.

These issues become exacerbated by the rapid introduction of innovation from a giga-factory for batteries to new electric vehicles, hydrogen, a multi-billion-dollar supply of affordable housing, climate emergencies, pressures on the health system which have spilled over into the fire sector; and most recently the recategorization of firefighting as a top tier most carcinogenic profession.

“Fire departments don’t give up on safety issues”, says McMullen, “so we will continue to ask, educate and advocate on the importance of retaining volunteer firefighters and modernizing capacity for training and equipment to address the fire and emergency response needs of all communities”.

In the meantime, the Fire Chiefs Ask all Canadians to take stock of fire and emergency preparedness tips and tools, from installing sprinklers in new residential construction, to ensuring you have an emergency preparedness kit, to making sure your smoke alarm works”, says Chief McMullen. “Short of becoming a volunteer firefighter, the best thing Canadians can do for public safety is to be prepared and be safe”.

In this regard, CAFC welcomed Budget 2023’s continued commitment to the three-digit crisis prevention line and continued investment in the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment.

For More Information:

Tina Saryeddine

Executive Director

613-324-1078

tsaryeddine@cafc.ca

More:

Download CAFC’s Press Release and Measures here.

Looking for the CAFC's Analysis? Members can read it here.