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House Hansard - 272

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
January 31, 2024 02:00PM
Context: House Hansard - 272 - Jan/31/24
Mrs. Sherry Romanado (Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, Lib.)
  • Jan/31/24 2:19:48 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today marks the last day of Canada's first ever national Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month. It was also on this very day two years ago that I introduced my private member's bill, which became law in June, to establish a national framework for the prevention and treatment of cancers linked to firefighting and to make every January Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month throughout Canada. Bringing increased public awareness to occupational cancers in the fire service, which account for over 85% of all duty-related deaths among Canada's firefighters, it is crucial to promote best practices that can help mitigate the risks. Raising awareness is essential to ensure that the men and women who put their health and safety on the line get screened regularly and receive timely treatment if they are diagnosed with cancer. I thank the firefighters in my riding of Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne and across Canada for their work. I want them to know that we care about their health and well-being.
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Context: House Hansard - 272 - Jan/31/24
Mr. Peter Julian (New Westminster—Burnaby, NDP)
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition signed by several dozen petitioners in British Columbia. They are raising concerns about the volunteer firefighter tax credit. As we know, with climate change, volunteer fire departments across the country are increasingly being called upon to intervene. That is over 70% of Canada's total firefighting essential first responders. The current tax code only gives the equivalent of just over $2 per hour for those volunteer firefighters who give so amply of their time. The petitioners are calling upon the Government of Canada to support Bill C-310, which is in the name of my colleague from Courtenay—Alberni, and to enact amendments to subsections of the Income Tax Act, in order to increase the amount of the tax credit for volunteer firefighting and search and rescue volunteer services from the current $3,000 to $10,000. This will make a difference, and we certainly hope that the government will hear this petition and act accordingly.
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