Bid to Boost Tax Break for Volunteer Firefighters as Brigades Struggle With Retention

Alberta volunteer firefighter Alison Archambault calls it her “soul work.” But that doesn’t mean some more help at tax time wouldn’t be welcome too. A tax credit for volunteer firefighters currently stands at $3,000, but Ms. Archambault, a volunteer in Redwood Meadows outside Calgary, said “any increase is appreciated” to help with costs such as vehicle maintenance. “Volunteer fire departments in general are having recruitment challenges and retention challenges and (an) increase in the tax write-off is just another tool to make being a volunteer firefighter more attractive and staying a volunteer firefighter more attractive,” said Ms. Archambault, whose regular job is in public relations....