Committee to Review Tax Credits for Volunteer Firefighters

LABOUR-Committee to Review Tax Credits for Volunteer Firefighters

Labour Minister Russell MacKinnon has announced a committee to review tax credits and other measures that can benefit volunteer firefighters.

"In the 1998 budget, the federal government announced a change to its tax relief for volunteer firefighters," said Mr. MacKinnon. "The province also shares in this tax break. However, that deduction is only applicable to volunteers who receive honorariums for their service.

"The concern is that not all volunteer firefighters receive honorariums and cannot access this tax benefit."

As part of this review the Department of Finance, Department of Housing and Municipal Affairs, Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities, and the Firefighters Association of Nova Scotia will be asked to help in developing legislation that would recognize the contributions of firefighters.

"The interplay between federal and provincial tax credits and legislation of this sort must be carefully worded to ensure our intent is achieved," said the minister.

The goal is to have any legislative measures resulting from the committee's consultations effective for the 1999 tax year.

Mr. MacKinnon said the government also supports changes to the Civil Service Act that will ensure a provincial government worker who is an active volunteer firefighter suffers no loss of pay while responding to a fire or emergency.

There are approximately 8,000 volunteer firefighters in the province.