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Between December 4 and 6, 2023 40 fire chiefs from all parts of the country, spent 36 hours on the Hill.  They engaged in over 70 meetings on the state of the fire and emergency sector.  They asked all parties, MPs and Senators to consider:

• Increasing the volunteer firefighter tax credit
  
• Installing a National Fire Administration
  
• Funding for training and equipment
• Ensuring the FireSmart program is widely available

The leave behind is available here.

 

The fire chiefs had the opportunity to meet with the Right Honourable Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, The Honourable Minister of Emergency Preparedness Harjit Sajjan, the Honourable Minister of Rural Economic Development, Gudie Hutchings; Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness Sherry Romanado, Shadow Ministers, Staff from the Department of Finance, Assistance Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament from all parties, esteemed members of the Senate senior staff, and others. 

 

Our elected officials were open-hearted, open-minded, and prepared.

The event began with the launch of two key reports from the association.

• The Great Canadian Fire Census 2023 provides the data substantiating the issues and solutions brought to the Hill.
  
• Towards a National Fire Administration, provides a proposal to introduce into Canada what comparator countries have had for years.
  

The CAFC also brought forward a petition e-4594 with close to 17,000 signatures in support of the increase to the volunteer firefighter tax credit.  

GR Week 2023 was a genuine public policy discussion. None of the recommendations that the fire chiefs presented were new. In fact, the same recommendations that were presented last year were already echoed in reports by the Standing Committee on Finance.

What was new was the shift “from what to how”; no longer talking about what needs to be done, but rather how to do it.

However what happens on the Hill depends on what happens the whole year through. Despite an unprecedented year, fire chiefs from across Canada have taken the time to contribute to CAFC’s public policy discussions; generate data; examine specific issues; develop solutions; and communicate them.

On the media side, Hill Times set the table with a full-page story called “A Burning Platform for a National Fire Administration". This was followed by CBC Syndication with radio shows in all parts of the country from coast to coast to coast, City TV, CTV, and As it Happens, and others, all pitched in to help Canadians understand the state of the Fire Sector. Clips are available here.

What did we take away from Government relations Week 2023? The issue of a national fire administration resonated. It’s doable and affordable. The Volunteer Firefighter Tax Credit will have a price tag, but there was recognition that what volunteer firefighters do is essential it and CAFC is confident that this Government with the support of all parties, is going to find a way, incremental or otherwise to make it happen, for the men and women at the front lines. 

GR week 2023 was an event to remember. The CAFC would like to acknowledge all our public officials who took the time to meet with us either individually or collectively at the reception, Summa Strategies for their work in this year’s event, ElissaPR who did our media outreach, the committees who provided the content for the meetings; staff and all fire chiefs who made the trip to Ottawa. 

Below is a sampling of available photographs from the event. Any errors or omissions are unintended.

 

 

CAFC Board of Directors Meets with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during Government Relations Week 2023.

CAFC Board of Directors Meets with The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness, during Government Relations Week 2023.

Chiefs meet with Members of Parliament Blaine Calkins and Francesco Sorbara.

Chiefs meet with Minister of Rural Economic Development Gudie Hutchings and Member of Parliament Damian Kurek.

Chiefs meet with Director of Policy and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Hon. Pierre Poilievre, David Murray and Member of Parliament Fraser Tolmie.

Chiefs meet with Senator Karen Sorensen and Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lawrence MacAulay.

Chiefs meet with Senator Donald Platt and Member of Parliament Joanne Thompson.

Chiefs meet with Natural Resources Canada and Member of Parliament Sean Casey.

Chiefs meet with Members of Parliament Rob Moore and Larry Brock.

Chiefs meet with Member of Parliament Todd Doherty and Senator Hassan Yussuff.

Chiefs meet with Members of Parliament Stephen Eliis and Tim Falk.

Chiefs meet with Minister of Emergency Preparedness Harjit Sajjan, Member of Parliament Sherry Romanado and Minister of Rural Economic Development Gudie Hutchings.

CAFC Fire Chiefs delighted to see Members of Parliament Joel Godin and Darrell Samson.

CAFC Fire Chiefs meet with Member of Parliament Darrel Samson.

The Fire Chiefs meet with Members of Parliament Kevin Waugh, Darrel Samson and Minister of Rural Economic Development Gudie Hutchings.

Minister of Rural Economic Development Gudie Hutchings receives a Challenge Coin from CAFC Chiefs.

Member of Parliament Kevin Waugh shares the challenge coin presented by CAFC Chiefs.

CAFC Fire Chiefs and Minister of Rural Economic Development Gudie Hutchings and Member of Parliament Sherry Romanado discuss policy at the CAFC Reception

The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Member of Parliament Sherry Romanado speak at the CAFC Chiefs on the Hill Reception to visiting fire chiefs.

Chiefs discuss recommendations with Sarah Fischer, Director of Communications for the Conservative Party and commemorate a successful GR Week with Member of Parliament Sherry Romanado.

CAFC Fire Chiefs meet with Members of Parliament Ted Falk and Mike Lake.

CAFC Fire Chiefs meet The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness.

CAFC President McMullen speaks while CAFC Members and Member of Parliament Mike Lake observe.

CAFC President McMullen discusses fire sector policy with The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Member of Parliament Sherry Romanado.

Members of Parliament Sherry Romanado and Gord Johns meet with CAFC Fire Chiefs.

Chiefs engage with Member of Parliament Gord Johns and The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness.

Fire Chiefs and Member of Parliament Sherry Romanado show off challenge coins and CAFC President Ken McMullen discusses the CAFC Leavebehind with Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, Energy and Natural Resources.