Tax break sought for auxiliary police officers

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Nov 23, 2014 at 1:00 AM
The tax man is being urged to treat all emergency personnel equally. Vernon council unanimously voted Monday to write the federal government and ask that a tax credit available to volunteer firefighters and search and rescue members be extended to auxiliary police officers. “It seems appropriate,” said Coun. Bob Spiers. “They get paid absolutely nothing.” According to Spiers, auxiliary police officers fulfill a lot of duties that allow full-time RCMP officers to focus on more urgent matters. “They do patrols on the ski slopes, they are out on the lake and they do ride-alongs Saturday night,” he said. “With auxiliary officers, there is less requirement for communities to have full-time officers which is good for the bottom line.” In February, the federal government announced that a tax credit will be available to search and rescue volunteers who perform at least 200 hours of eligible service during a year. The credit provides up to $450 in tax savings for individuals involved in search and rescue. “Our government recognizes their invaluable contributions, and the selfless role each volunteer plays,” said Kerry-Lynne Findlay, national revenue minister, at the time. “We are pleased to recognize their community leadership and volunteerism through the search and rescue volunteers tax credit.” The City of Vernon is also asking the provincial government to support a tax credit for auxiliary police officers.
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Don Quixote Note: Links to other items mentioned in this article:
-Nova Scotia proposed a Prov. Tax Credit to Auxiliary Officers in 2012.   (ist reading only) http://nslegislature.ca/legc/bills/61st_4th/1st_read/b132.htm
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-http://www.memorialribbon.com/en/honour-roll/2004.php
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What is an RCMP Auxiliary Constable?
An Auxiliary Constable is an unarmed, unpaid, uniformed RCMP volunteer whose activities are governed under provincial legislation. RCMP Auxiliary Constables may have peace officer or equivalent status, in accordance to their provincial or territorial statutes.

http://actionplan.gc.ca/en/initiative/search-and-rescue-volunteers-tax-credit
Economic Action Plan 2014 announces a 15-per-cent non-refundable Search and Rescue Volunteers Tax Credit on an amount of $3,000 for ground, air and marine search and rescue volunteers. This credit will be available to search and rescue volunteers who perform at least 200 hours of service during a year. Individuals who perform at least 200 hours of combined eligible search and rescue services and volunteer firefighting services in a given year will be able to choose between the Volunteer Firefighters Tax Credit and the new tax credit.