John Duncan, Conservative candidate for Vancouver Island North, met and spoke with volunteer firefighters in Cumberland this week.He highlighted that a re-elected Conservative government would establish a Volunteer Firefighters Tax Credit of $3,000 per year for volunteer firefighters.鈥淰olunteer firefighters are role models in our communities鈥� said Duncan in a news release. 鈥淭hey are strongly committed to public service and place their lives on the line to help others. This tax credit is a tangible way to recognize and support the important work they do.鈥� This tax credit would be available to volunteer firefighters who perform at least 200 hours of service for their communities over the course of a year. This measure would help sustain fire services in rural Canada and recognize the remarkable work being done by Canadians who are involved in their communities and who help to save lives every day.鈥淭his is an important tax credit and one that I welcome as a volunteer firefighter,鈥� said Mike Williamson, assistant chief of Cumberland Fire Rescue. 鈥淚 believe this will be a good way to support our volunteer firefighters. It will also be another way to recruit and retain new volunteer firefighters.鈥漈he Conservative government鈥檚 2011 budget contained a specific tax credit for volunteer firefighters. When the budget was tabled, both the NDP and Liberal parties publicly said they would not support it, stalling measures like the volunteer firefighter tax credit, Duncan noted. 鈥淚 have had the unique opportunity to meet and speak with volunteer firefighters across Vancouver Island North,鈥� added Duncan. 鈥淔irefighters have my full support.鈥� 鈥� John Duncan