In an effort to address community concerns and inclusion, Halton Hills Council has tasked staff with working up a budget to review the fireworks bylaw.
A motion to that effect, brought forth by Councillor Clark Somerville and seconded by Councillor Wendy Farrow-Reed, was passed at the June 13 council meeting.
The resolution cites risks of fires or injury when fireworks are improperly used, and concerns with respect to pets, wildlife and livestock.
"People who suffer from PTSD or other traumas may find fireworks to be a trigger and cause harm to their mental health,” notes the motion.
Staff will report back to the budget committee about the cost of reviewing the bylaw. If the expense is approved, the motion directs staff to investigate the legality of prohibiting sales of fireworks, except in the case of licensed events.
Council was careful to consider that certain religious festivals, like Diwali in the Hindu religion, have fireworks as a staple. They worded the motion to encompass “a diversity, inclusion and equity lens to ensure that any final decision is reflective of our community as a whole.”
Somerville noted that Halton Hills’ fireworks bylaw is fairly old and should be reviewed.
"It’s 20 years old, it only mentions Victoria Day and Canada Day, and there is no prohibition of time on the bylaw, nor is there anything on an educational component,” he said.
“The town of Halton Hills strives to be a welcoming community, all across race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and other differences,” added Farrow-Reed. “Other celebrations in our community celebrate with fireworks and I think we owe it to these community members to review our policy for inclusion.”
Nearby municipality Caledon banned both the sale and the discharge of fireworks for personal use last April. They did, however, keep the door open to some pyrotechnics for large displays through a permitting process.
Permit holders in Caledon are required to set off their displays a minimum of 300 metres away from places like schools and gas stations. A supervisor is required to keep an eye on the display, insurance should cover liabilities and safety inspections are also some requirements.
