Volunteers demand answers

[five_alarm]

CHARLOTTETOWN — The defeat of a bill to give volunteer firefighters a tax break has Island MPs explaining why they voted it down. The bill was defeated by just three votes earlier this month. All four Island MPs voted against it. Volunteer firefighters on the Island are demanding to know why.P.E.I. fire marshall Dave Blaquiere says a tax break would help with recruitment and would recognize volunteer service which he calls unique. "When they get the call they get in their car they use their gas, when the smoke permeates its their cleaning bill that has to pay for it," says Blacquiere. "It's money out of their pocket and they are responding to help the public."

Source: pei.cbc.ca (http://www.firehall.com/refer.php?url=http://pei.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=pe_volunteers20031021&linkid=220&parent=news(headlines)&)