POP: Volunteer Firefighter and Volunteer Emergency Medical First Responder Tax Credit
POP: Yes
Res #: POP 1-18A
Number: 1
Year: 2018
Midterm: No
Expired: No
Responses Received: No
Departments: Saskatchewan Ministry of Finance
WHEREAS Saskatchewan has approximately 1,750 volunteer firefighters and 1,200 emergency medical first responders that respond to a wide variety of emergencies, such as motor vehicle collisions, fire and medical crises, generally with no financial compensation;
WHEREAS both volunteer firefighter and emergency medical first responders require extensive training, with first responders requiring a Certificate of Registration from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health to ensure core competencies;
WHEREAS the federal government currently provides volunteer firefighters and search and rescue volunteers a non-refundable income tax credit of $450 (15 per cent of a $3,000 amount);
WHEREAS matching the federal tax credit for volunteer firefighters was promised in the 2016 Saskatchewan Party election campaign;
BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the provincial government to fulfill their election promise and match the federal tax credit for volunteer fire fighters and introduce it for volunteer medical emergency first responders.