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Fire Chiefs Applaud Firefighter Tax Credit But Warn Canada At Risk Without National Fire Administration 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) continues to applaud the increase in the volunteer firefighter tax credit and intention to train more firefighters in Budget 2024, but remains concerned about aging equipment and the lack of fire and emergency coordinating infrastructure in Canada. 

“This Budget starts with Canadians. It sends a clear message to firefighters that Canada cares deeply about them and what they may be facing in the coming months”, says Chief Ken McMullen, CAFC President. “We would like to thank the Federal Government and all MPs who supported this”.  

The importance of the tax credit was echoed thousands of times, in every part of the country. More than 165 communities passed resolutions and signed petitions. MPs from every party rose in the House of Commons. More than 17,000 Canadians signed petitions.   

The Fire Chiefs also support and applaud the measures for emergency preparedness and response in Indigenous communities. “The National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC) is a long-standing member of our National Advisory Council” says Chief McMullen, “we extend our appreciation, for their support and advocacy and look forward to meaningful implementation of these measures”.   

That said, fire chiefs remain extremely concerned about aging equipment and the lack of coordinating infrastructure in Canada for fire, leaving Canada one of the few comparator countries without it.  

“Our moral compass tells us as fire chiefs, we have to speak up about the unintended risks associated with initiatives such as an increase in secondary suites, and the impacts of additional electric vehicles on our roadways”, says McMullen. “Wildfires, electric vehicles, increased housing, climate change, require federal policy coordination with fire departments. This is not a jurisdictional issue”, he adds.   

In the absence of a national coordinating infrastructure, fire chiefs will explore what opportunities exist to provide this service to Canada. “It’s the nature of the fire service to innovate, we’ll start and we’re asking the federal government to follow suit”. CAFC President Ken McMullen will be present with the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre and other countries at the World Fire Congress hosted by the US Fire Administration in May. 

For More Information
Elissa Freeman
416-565-5605
ElissaFreeman@gmail.com

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