By Geoff Scotton National Communications Team Member (geoff.scotton@skipatrol.ca)
In Canada, volunteer firefighters and search and rescue volunteers may claim a federal tax credit through the Canadian Revenue Agency First Responder Tax Credit. CSP members are not eligible for this credit unless they also meet the criteria for the credit.
Every year around tax season, CSP leaders are asked whether CSP members can claim the credit. Based on CSP membership, they may not. We are neither volunteer firefighters nor search and rescue volunteers.
The strict criteria for the credit require at least 200 hours of eligible service annually in either a volunteer firefighter role, or an eligible search and rescue organization. The CSP is not an eligible search and rescue organization.
Eligible volunteer firefighting services with a fire department include:
- Responding to, and being on call for, firefighting and related emergency calls as a firefighter.
- Attending meetings held by the fire department.
- Participating in required training related to preventing or suppressing fires.
Eligible search and rescue volunteer services with an eligible search and rescue organization include:
- Responding to, and being on call for, search and rescue and related emergency calls as a search and rescue volunteer.
- Attending meetings held by the search and rescue organization.
- Participating in required training related to search and rescue services.
To be eligible, a search and rescue organization has to be a member of the Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada, Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, or Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, or its status as a search and rescue organization has to be recognized by a provincial, municipal, or public authority. Members of the Canadian Ski Patrol are not eligible.
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