Whereas the municipalities and regional districts that provide firefighting services must provide certified Fire Apparatus and regulatory compliant Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment to meet insurance standards and WorkSafe BC regulations; And whereas the cost of providing the specialty apparatus and equipment has become an onerous challenge for large and small fire departments alike: Therefore be it resolved that the provincial government be requested to provide an exemption from provincial sales tax for fire protection equipment and supplies for Fire Departments within the province.
Ministry of Finance Government values the contribution that first responders, including firefighters, make to communities throughout BC. It is important that the health and safety of firefighters is protected while they provide invaluable services to British Columbians every day. The current PST system strikes a balance between providing tax exemptions and grants to ensure firefighters have life-saving equipment and apparel and ensuring it can be properly applied by BC businesses. The full suite of PST exemptions is described in an information bulletinPST 100, Safety Equipment and Protective Clothing is available online: https:www2.gov.bc.caassetsgovtaxessales-taxespublicationspst-100-safety… Ministry of Finance staff are also available to assist local governments and fire departments understand whether an exemption applies to specific items and can be reached at CTBTaxQuestionsgov.bc.ca.