A Kincardine Councillor and volunteer firefighter wants fair treatment for all Volunteer Firefighters in Ontario when it comes to licence plates.
Mike Leggett says he noticed there are two types of firefighter’s licence plates.,
One that the Ministry of Transportation provides to anyone, and another design that is only available to members of the Ontario Professional Firefighter’s Association.
Those are full-time firefighters who work on large departments.
Leggett says having distinct volunteer firefighter licence plates that only firefighters could use would make it much easier for emergency personnel to be identified.
Currently, volunteer firefighters in Ontario can display a flashing green light on or inside their vehicle if they’re en route to a call.
The only licence plate marking they are entitled to is a small green sticker that fits in the corner of the regular licence plate.
Leggett is planning to circulate a motion among municipal councils across the province, asking the Ministry of Transportation to make distinct plates available.
He also hopes to raise the issue with new Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne.
Several other Canadian provinces — including Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island — provide licence plates for both volunteer and full-time firefighters.
The plates are also common in most states south of the border.
