Archived - Harper Government Supports Search and Rescue Volunteers

February 14, 2014 – Vancouver, British Columbia – Department of Finance

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty today highlighted the Harper Government’s support for families and communities through the introduction in Economic Action Plan 2014 of the new Search and Rescue Volunteers Tax Credit.

Economic Action Plan 2014 announced 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 (SAR) volunteers. This credit will be available to SAR volunteers who perform at least 200 hours of service during a year.

This new tax credit builds on the Government’s record of tax relief and the introduction in Economic Action Plan 2011 of the Volunteer Firefighters Tax Credit.

• In Canada, SAR is a shared responsibility among federal, provincial/territorial and municipal organizations, as well as ground, air and marine volunteer SAR organizations.
• There are three key national SAR associations that help to support and guide Canada’s volunteer SAR community. Together, they represent some 18,000 volunteers across the country:
  • The Civil Air Search and Rescue Association is a Canada-wide volunteer association dedicated to the promotion of aviation safety, and to the provision of air search support services to Canada’s National SAR Program.
  • The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary is a Canada-wide volunteer association dedicated to maritime SAR and the promotion of boating safety, and provides assistance to the Canadian Coast Guard in maritime SAR.
  • The Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada was established by the provincial and territorial associations to provide a national voice for ground SAR volunteers in Canada. It aims to address issues of common concern, and to develop consistency and promote standardization or portability of programs and volunteers across the country.

• Economic Action Plan 2014
• Harper Government Continues to Support Volunteer Firefighters

Marie Prentice
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Finance
613-996-7861

Jack Aubry
Media Relations
Department of Finance
613-996-8080