Andrew Scheer announces plan for volunteer heroes to get ahead

New Conservative government to make it easier for volunteers to qualify for tax credits recognizing their service

A new Conservative government will allow more search and rescue volunteers and volunteer firefighters to qualify for tax savings, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer announced today.

“Communities across Canada rely on
volunteers for essential services like fire protection and search and rescue,”
Scheer said. “These are people of courage, character, and strength who step up
when their neighbours need it most, often at significant personal expense. A
new Conservative government will recognize this service and sacrifice by making
it easier for them to qualify for tax savings so they can get ahead.”

A new Conservative government will put
more money back in the pockets of these hometown heroes by reducing the number
of service hours required to qualify for federal tax credits from 200 to 150
hours per year.

Volunteers
often pay out-of-pocket for equipment, uniforms, transportation, training, and
insurance – costs that run into the thousands of dollars.

Volunteers
will continue to receive a $450 rebate every year. The Parliamentary Budget
Officer estimates that lowering the number of required hours by 50 will allow more
than 5,000 additional volunteers to apply for and receive these benefits.

Scheer
made today’s announcement in New Brunswick, where volunteer search and rescue
teams have been active for more than 35 years. Upper Kingsclear also relies on volunteer
firefighters for its protection, several of whom were on hand for today’s announcement.

“A new Conservative government will live
within its means and put more money back in your pockets – for you, for your
family, and your retirement,” Scheer said.

FACTS:

Last
year, the National Fire Protection Association reports that of the 152,650 local firefighters
in Canada from 2014-16, 126,650 (83 per cent) were volunteers. That same report
found that of 3,672 fire departments in Canada, 3,061 are all-volunteer.
The
Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada (SARVAC) says 9,000 volunteers serve on 300 search and
rescue teams across the country. All told, these volunteers contribute more
than 600,000 hours of training, administration, and searches each year.
The
previous Conservative government introduced the Volunteer Firefighter Tax Credit
in Budget 2011 and the Search and Rescue Volunteer Tax
Credit in Budget 2014.
In
2016, nearly 43,000 individuals claimed the Volunteer Firefighter Tax Credit
and 4,800 individuals claimed the Search and Rescue Volunteer Tax Credit.
Justin
Trudeau has done nothing with these tax credits and nothing for these
volunteers.

ANDREW SCHEER’S PLAN FOR YOU TO GET AHEAD:

Scrap the Trudeau Carbon Tax, lowering the cost of everyday essentials like gas, groceries, and home heating.
Introduce the Universal Tax Cut, saving an average couple $850.
Take the GST off home heating costs, saving your family $107 every year.
Introduce the Green Public Transit Tax Credit, saving a family of four who take transit up to $1,000.
Make maternity benefits tax-free, putting up to $4,000 back in the pockets of new parents.
Introduce the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit, allowing parents to claim up to $1,000 for sports activities.
Introduce the Children’s Arts and Learning Tax Credit, letting parents claim up to $500 for arts and learning programs.
Expand the Age Credit, benefiting the lowest income Canadians the most and giving a senior couple up to $300.
Boost government-matching to RESPs by 50%, helping parents get more for their kids’ education.
Introduce the Green Home Renovation Tax Credit, putting up to $3,800 back in the pockets of Canadians for green home improvements.