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| Last updated at 1:22 PM on 05/03/08 |
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Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Fire Services president Richard Murphy (left) and Municipal Affairs Minister Dave Denine share a laugh today at the presentation of the first in a series of new license plates to be distributed to the province’s volunteer and career firefighters. — Photo by Gary Hebbard/The Telegram |
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New licence plate to recognize provincial firefighters  
The Telegram
To recognize the valuable service of firefighters in Newfoundland and Labrador, a special category of licence plate has been designed to be used exclusively for volunteer and career firefighters in the province.
Dave Denine, Minister Responsible for Emergency Preparedness, and Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Government Services, presented the unique licence plate to Richard Murphy, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Fire Services (NLAFS) this morning at the Conception Bay South fire hall in Kelligrews.
The licence plate will be issued through an arrangement with the Department of Government Services. The Office of the Fire Commissioner and local fire chiefs will co-manage the certification of firefighters for issuance of the plate with the Motor Registration Division of Government Services. The annual registration fee will be the responsibility of the individual holding the licence plate.
The specialty licence plate has been designed with the following attributes: the word “firefighter” identified across the top of the plate, the Maltese cross and plate sequence number comprised of FF and a four-digit sequential number, and the Newfoundland and Labrador brand at the bottom of the plate.
Murphy said he is pleased with the development of the licence plate which will allow active firefighters to be easily recognized and identified.
“Many volunteer fire departments have been inquiring about the development of a special identification plate,” he said. “This initiative has been well-received by firefighters. In fact, we have over 800 individuals who have completed the necessary paperwork and are awaiting receipt of their new plates.”
Denine said the licence plate is an important opportunity to support those individuals dedicated to saving lives and properties, and to recognize the hard work and dedication of firefighters in this province.
“The new plates will clearly identify firefighters to other vehicles and pedestrians,” he said. “Developed in consultation with the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Fire Services, this licence plate is similar to those being used in other Atlantic Provinces.”
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05/03/08
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Webster the Duck from NL writes: I certainly don't want to belittle the contributions that firefighters have made to the province (their service is invaluable), however this is another one to add to the list of frivolous actions of the Williams government:
a) Creating a new provincial logo and trademarking it
b) Creating a new birth certificate
c) Creating a new drivers licence
d) Creating a new MCP card
e) Producing a book of colorful graphs and charts and calling it the 'Energy
f) Congratulating Gordon Pinset on his Genie Award
h) Encouraging people to vote online to help bring Hockeyville to Port aux Basques
i) Creating a new licence plate for fire fighters
Mr. Williams seems to be more concerned about image rather than substance. When is this government going to start producing more 'meaty' headlines? Their actions so far have been more along the lines of 'arts and crafts'.
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| Posted 05/03/2008 at 2:46 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Howard the Duck from NL writes: More FLUFF from this administration.
This is the same MHA who has been unavailable for comment on why he ordered Long Term Care homes closed for not having sprinklers while govt run facilities are not held to the level of accountability.
Danny seems to have surrounded himself with cheerleaders like Denine, who don't do much beside cheering for Danny on open line and attending constituency bbqs and pancake breakfasts, while leaving MUCH more qualified members like Beth Marshall on the outside of cabinet.
In Dave's defence, I guess there's lots of time for bbqs and pancakes if the govt never sits in the House of Assembly.
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| Posted 05/03/2008 at 3:09 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Peter Mackey from Charlttetown, PE writes: Being a fireman for some 30 years, I only hope the Williams Government is going to recognize the great contributation these people make to all of their provience and allow these plates to be given to the fire personnel free of cost.
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| Posted 05/03/2008 at 3:23 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Rick from Calgary, Alberta writes: Firefighters now have their own license plates!! So how about our Military personal,…….how about our Doctor's,…..or even our Police officers, maybe even our Correctional officers.
Man, give me a break, yes they are essential service personal just like a lot of other public service workers and get yes, they paid well for doing it.....but their own licence plates???
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| Posted 05/03/2008 at 4:17 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Mike from AB writes: Hey Rick, the last time I looked, a volunteer firefighter didn’t get a pay check every week. They get a tax credit of about $1000 at the end of the year. Yippee. I think it’s sad to say that most of the people in Canada that do save us and our homes do it for free. Giving them a license plate is a small drop in the bucket compared to paying them. Sure, some large centers like St. John’s or Edmonton can afford to pay regular wages but all the small towns across our nation rely on volunteers to do this job.
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| Posted 05/03/2008 at 5:20 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Jennifer from NLer living in Ottawa, ON writes: I think its a nice idea to recoginze those people. Here in Ontario, they have all kinds of license plates honouring all kinds of different groups, for example, there is a war verterans plate with a poppy on it. Are all you people this small minded to be bs-ing over this, Really? Are you paying for the plate to put on your car, if not, what the hell is your problem. Get with the times!!!
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| Posted 05/03/2008 at 5:48 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Webster the Duck from NL writes: Jennifer, I think you're totally missing the point. I know the original story is about new licence plates for firefighters (a nice gesture), but the real story is much bigger.
This is a government that promised a lot before it got elected, but has only delivered trivalities (FLUFF, as Howard put it) since.
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| Posted 05/03/2008 at 6:43 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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John W. from NL writes: I'm getting tired of this crap.
Firefighters get PAID for what they do. Yes indeed the job that they do is dangerous. In one way or another all jobs are dangerous. If anyone wants to whine about the job they have, let them leave it. Does anyone know how much time is spent in a job as a firefighter. Does it mean that when there are no fires, there is no work but paid as usual. Sounds like a good deal to me. Maybe those who whine about this should go and fight the war in iraq or afghanistan. Now that is a dangerous job.
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| Posted 05/03/2008 at 8:25 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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John W. from NL writes: After this special licence to the provincial firefighters, how about a licence plate for those RCMP and RNC Officers who put their lives on the line every day and for doing such a good job at keeping all of us safe and secure.
It might be interesting to know how this special licence plate issue came up, and what were the circumstances behind it. And while I'm at it, just how much is this going to cost us, the taxpayers.
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| Posted 05/03/2008 at 8:35 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Moronic Opinions abound from newfoundland writes: There are some 6000 volunteer firefighters on the isalnd and perhaps about 200-220 that can call it a career.
Volunteers get paid nothing., a tax break and a thanks for coming out. It's not like volunteering once a week at the SPCA or something along that line. Volunteer firefighting is 24/7, 2am, 3am, x-mas dinner you name it. Countless hours of training, fundraising, time away from home for training, ruined clothes, wear and tear on a vehicle drving to and from calls and the station, and I could go on.
The firefighters association lobbied government for three years to obtain this small token of appreciation and recognition and finally were sucessful in getting it. I suggest if the RNC or RCMP or the SPCA or Red Cross or any other organization wants a plate, to start lobbying now, cause it's a long process, and if you don't ask, chances are you will never recieve.
The small closed minded opinions around here are borderline retarded. Why not stop the bitching about the plate and go sign up to be a volunteer firefighter?, seeing as how there is a huge shortage of volunteer firefighters province wide. Why not say thanks to the men and women you choose to protect your property and lives free of charge and those who do it for a living.
Everyone bitches about the fire department until YOU need them.
It's hard, dangerous dirty work no matter what way you cut it, there may not be fires all the time, but there is always training, inspecting and testing gear, fire prevention seminars in schools and business, and the list goes on.
and you complain about someone getting a plate? GET A LIFE!
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| Posted 05/03/2008 at 9:29 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Beavs from NL writes: Hey 'Moron Opinions abound', lighten up.
How about a licence plate that identifies people convicted of DUI.
IM DRNK
That would be more beneficial to the general public.
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| Posted 05/03/2008 at 9:56 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Bob from NL writes: I think the idea of a thank-you to volunteer fire-fighters is great... the paid ones, not so much. The only question I have is that if you are volunteering for recognition then maybe you're not volunteering for the right reasons...
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| Posted 05/03/2008 at 11:59 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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BOB from NL writes: ok... maybe more of a comment than a question (see previous post)
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| Posted 06/03/2008 at 12:01 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Beavs from NL writes: Building on BOB's point above..
If you're a volunteer, you're supposed to do it out of the goodness of your heart, and not seek recognition for self promotion.
There are countless numbers of people that volunteer in other areas that are equally as important, who don't need a special licence plate. They do it because they truly enjoy helping others.
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| Posted 06/03/2008 at 7:42 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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John W. from NL writes: Volunteer Firefighters get paid nothing. Seems as if someone thought I never knew that.
All of my previous comments referred to Career Firefighters, you know, the ones that get paid for doing their jobs.
And I do wish I had all the spare time that the Volunteer Firefighters have. Maybe I could do some extra walking.
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| Posted 06/03/2008 at 8:51 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Moronic opinions abound from newfoundland writes: just about every other province and just about every state has offered up plates to thier volunteer firefighters, Newfoundland perhaps being the last to do so.
Volunteering, is just that, volunteering. Is it so bad that they are getting a plate?
99% of volunteers recieve some token of appreciation for doing what they do, a t-shirt, a key chain, a fast food coupon...whatever. So firefighters getting a plate is no different, it's a recognition that identifies the group of volunteers collectively.
If anyone thinks that the volunteer firefighters of the province have thier hearts in the wrong place or are volunteering for the wrong reasons, you should take a good hard look at how much they give up year in and year out and then re-evaluate your thoughts on something so simple as a license plate that recognizes the group collectively.
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| Posted 06/03/2008 at 9:11 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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MP N from NL writes: I think volunteering here in NL is an industry itself. There is a government department for volunteering, there is a community services council, etc, all of which are not volunteer, but are well paid jobs. Town councillors get paid a stipend, get free trips and other perks, so they're not volunteers. I think there are very few true volunteers. The true volunteers I know don't belong to any organization, don't seek or accept any compensation or attention. But they never make the news or garner any attention, they don't lobby for recognition, they don't get pins or awards, and they certainly don't display their good works on their licence plates, nor would they even want to.
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| Posted 06/03/2008 at 1:35 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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