B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
A new census by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs highlights the grave impact of the firefighter shortage across the country, but especially in smaller, rural communities.
According to the census released on Tuesday, the number of firefighters has decreased significantly since 2016, when 156,000 were reported. In comparison, of the 126,000 that were reported in 2022, 90,000 are volunteer firefighters who aren't always available because they work additional full-time jobs.
President of the CAFC, Ken McMullen, is among the 35 fire chiefs attending a meeting in Ottawa to call for additional funding from the federal government, especially for volunteers in smaller communities that are dealing with challenging calls like wildfires.
"We're attending to different types of calls that we didn't attend 25, 30 years ago and it's certainly having an impact on some of our members," McMullen told CTV's Your Morning on Tuesday.
The census found, of the $5.6 billion fund given to fire departments across the country, only 15 per cent is given to the 2,000 departments that mainly have volunteers.
McMullen says volunteers currently receive a tax exemption of $3,000 annually, however the CAFC is looking to get that increased to $10,000 to not only help the current volunteers but also incentivize younger recruits.
"Thirty-three per cent of those (volunteers) are over the age of 50, so if you think about that, those individuals likely started in their communities many years ago, they may have been the first to start in their communities," McMullen said. "Where we're seeing the challenge is actually recruiting and attracting the younger generations."
Additionally, the CAFC census reported increased risk of deaths and injuries. Over the last 12 months, 629 fire departments reported two active line of duty deaths and 57 deaths linked to the profession, like cancer and suicide.
A recent W5 investigation found that response times in rural communities that mainly rely on volunteers, like Kawartha Lakes, averages 20 minutes; six minutes slower than the international standard of 14. These delayed responses and lack of support for smaller fire departments can lead to putting lives at risk as it did with one family in the Kawartha Lakes where two people lost their lives in a house fire after it took 25 minutes for firefighters to arrive at the scene.
McMullen says he's confident the data for this year’s census will show the federal government the much-needed funding and support that all 3,200 fire departments across Canada need.
"I think the big difference this time is we've got really clear, precise data that shows what the needs are in our community. It's broken down between all of the statistics that we've got; 3,200 fire departments, over 2 million calls attended throughout this country annually and we've got the information to really back up what we're asking for."
With files from Avery Haines
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
A property tax bill is perplexing a small townhouse community in Fergus, Ont.
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
A local Oilers fan is hoping to see his team cut through the postseason, so he can cut his hair.
A family from Laval, Que. is looking for answers... and their father's body. He died on vacation in Cuba and authorities sent someone else's body back to Canada.
A former educational assistant is calling attention to the rising violence in Alberta's classrooms.
The federal government says its plan to increase taxes on capital gains is aimed at wealthy Canadians to achieve “tax fairness.”
At 6'8" and 350 pounds, there is nothing typical about UBC offensive lineman Giovanni Manu, who was born in Tonga and went to high school in Pitt Meadows.