The Town of The Blue Mountains council plans to implement a bylaw to limit the use of fireworks in the municipality to specific holidays.
At its committee of the whole meeting on April 26, council voted to have municipal staff prepare a draft bylaw that would limit the usage of fireworks in the community to specific times on or around certain holidays.
The report from staff on fireworks usage came after a public meeting was held on the topic in March because council received public complaints about fireworks throughout 2021.
Staff presented council with five options to consider, which included:
- Status quo,
- Enhanced noise bylaw,
- Permit system,
- Partial prohibition (permitted on/around certain holidays), and
- Complete prohibition.
The full staff report can be found on the town website.
“Partial prohibition is consistent with our neighbours in Meaford, Collingwood and Clearview,” said Will Thomson, director of legal services.
The Town of Collingwood prohibits consumer fireworks on private property except between dusk and 11 p.m. on Canada Day and Victoria Day.
Thomson explained to council that the draft bylaw would include provisions and different rules for professional fireworks displays. It would also include a process for exemptions for special events like a wedding or other celebrations.
Councillor Rob Sampson said it will be important for the town to communicate to the community that enforcement of the fireworks bylaw will be challenging.
“I think we do need to manage expectations. On nights and weekends, we’re not fully staffed on bylaw, we need to be careful that people don’t expect that if fireworks are going on on a Saturday night that bylaw will swoop in. It’s not going to happen,” said Sampson. “There shouldn’t be the expectation of immediate enforcement.”
Council voted 6-0 in favour of staff formulating a draft fireworks bylaw that will come before council for consideration in the near future.
