QUESTION PERIOD — Finance
Fiscal Update
December 10, 2020
On that list, I have another request regarding volunteer fire halls across Canada that have been impacted by the pandemic. Some have lost members of their crew for economic or health reasons related to COVID-19. In addition, retention, recruitment, training and outreach have all been severely impacted. Fundraising events, which are critical to the ability of these volunteer fire halls to raise money to pay their bills and obtain new equipment, have in large part been halted all year. The president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Fire Services recently told the media that about 240 of the 270 fire halls in that province rely on fundraising.
Leader, I noticed that the volunteer firefighters did not warrant a specific mention in the recent Fall Economic Statement. Would you report back to this chamber on how the new federal emergency programs will benefit volunteer fire halls and volunteer firefighters, if at all?
I’ll certainly endeavour to find that answer. There are so many important sectors in our society that are struggling because of the economic downturn and the pandemic. Fundraising activities are certainly ongoing, if my inbox is any gauge. But that is not necessarily and not usually an answer in such extraordinary times as this. I will endeavour to find an answer, I just don’t know if one will be available as quickly as I would hope.
