MANITOUWADGE — A new partnership could ease financial strain on the residents of Manitouwadge.
At their regular council meeting on Jan. 10, municipal officials in Manitouwadge approved an agency agreement between the fire department and Fire Marque Inc.
The agreement will allow the fire department to recover costs associated with fire protection services through Fire Marque Inc., at no cost to the township itself.
At present, funds from the municipal levy cover costs incurred during fire response calls.
Additional expenses are eligible for recovery through property owners’ insurance policies.
According to Fire Chief Don Kruger’s report, about “one third of Ontario’s fire departments” are currently partnered with Fire Marque to help offset costs resulting from firefighting.
Fire Marque Inc. deals directly with insurance companies so that the township and property owners are not affected. In return, they receive 30 per cent of the recovered money.
“The great thing is that it costs the homeowner nothing as well. It’s a win-win for everybody,” Kruger said.
On top of the money that this will save homeowners and the township, it also removes a burden on the fire department in terms of allocating staff resources to create their own recovery program.
During the council meeting, Kruger noted that while it will serve them well to have this agreement in place, the Manitouwadge Fire Department actually hasn’t had to recover any costs for 2022 or 2023.
Partnering with Fire Marque is more of a preemptive move.
Mayor Jim Moffat agreed that it was a step in the right direction.
“I think that’s a great idea. I mean, if we don’t need it then great but if we do need it it’s there,” Moffat said.
With rising costs to provide emergency services and continued staffing challenges in Northern Ontario, it is likely that Manitouwadge won’t be the last community to consider such an agreement with Fire Marque Inc.
