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Northern Bruce Peninsula is looking at banning anyone except licensed professionals from buying or setting off fireworks in the municipality.
During a meeting on July 26, council was presented several options for updating Northern Bruce Peninsula’s fireworks by-law. Mayor Milt McIver says while nothing has been voted on, they are leaning in favour of this change.
This potential update would allow only professionals licensed by Natural Resources Canada to shoot off fireworks on limited days permitted by council. It would also make the sale, use and possession of family fireworks illegal in the municipality.
Currently, fireworks are allowed in the municipality on Canada Day, Victoria Day, Civic Holiday, Labour Day, Independence Day, Chi-Cheemaun Festival Weekend, and any day set by council, as well as the two days immediately following. However, permits must be obtained from the fire department.
A report by Northern Bruce Peninsula Fire Chief Jack Burt notes 30 complaints about fireworks being set off across the municipality were received during the Canada Day and Independence Day holidays, when only three permits were granted.
McIver says with the potential by-law change, even if residents and visitors were go outside the municipality and purchase fireworks, it will be illegal to set them off within Northern Bruce Peninsula.
To ensure people who live or visit the area are aware of this update, information will available through various forms of media, social media and signage around the municipality.
“It addresses the concerns, the numerous concerns that we have had regarding the fireworks and I think we have had a lot of complaints come to the office but also as councillors we have also had a lot of complaints that have not come to the office. There were just many, many complaints and it is a tough one to enforce as well,” McIver explains. “There is a lot of education as the option indicates, there will be a lot of education in this as well and hopefully enforcement will be minimized.”
To further ensure this potential fireworks policy change reaches visitors coming to the municipality, council is currently working on a short-term rental by-law which will make sure the owners inform the tenants.
“If you are coming into a cottage here, you probably won’t be aware that it is illegal to set off fireworks here, but it will be illegal,” McIver says. “It should be made known if you have a short term rental and are a owner or manager, they should convey that message to them. And we have a short term rental by-law that is working its ways through the system as well. We are going through the process to get that passed.”
McIver expects Northern Bruce Peninsula council will formalize its decision in a couple of weeks when the by-law comes back for a final vote.