‘It’s just the wild west’: Caledon looks to ban residents from discharging fireworks

Thestar.com
Dec. 3, 2021

Setting off fireworks on your property or neighbouring park might be a thing of the past in Caledon.

The town at a General Committee Meeting Tuesday (Nov. 30) looked to put a ban on the sale of low-hazard consumer fireworks and setting off fireworks for personal use.

“The litter, the mess that we’ve had this year is probably the worst we’ve had yet,” said Mayor Thompson at the meeting. “It’s just from total lack of regard on discharging fireworks. Firing under school buses, under people’s cars -- damage to property is unreal.”

Thompson also went on to say that “right now, it’s just the wild west” in Caledon.

Option 1 of the plan staff have proposed to council will implement a permit system, managed by the town’s fire chief, to only set off fireworks for community events and theatrical pyrotechnics (filming movies).

They say this new plan will ensure large firework displays have a licensed supervisor and insurance for liability reasons.

Inspections will take place to approve locations and that fireworks can be set off from dusk to 11 p.m. Fireworks will also need to maintain 300 metres from schools, nursing homes, industrial, fuel facilities, agricultural facilities housing animals, et cetera.

The Canadian National Fireworks Association executive director, Perry Logan, was also in attendance at the meeting.

He called for vendors to provide more education for residents buying fireworks at retail locations than simply the town enacting a ban.

“We honestly believe (…) that 99 per cent of people want to use fireworks correctly. They’re just not aware of the regulations, and the person that does something stupid, they’re just wired differently,” said Logan.

However, the proposed ban comes after the town saw an increase in complaints from residents over the last two years.

The main concerns reported were about noise, debris, property damage, unpermitted discharge and concerns from residents with pets and livestock.

Most of council was in favour of the Option 1 plan at the committee meeting.

Ward 2 Regional Coun. Johanna Downey called the fireworks seen in Caledon an “unsafe disaster” and said she receives many emails from residents complaining about fireworks after a holiday.

Coun. Lynn Kiernan agreed with Coun. Downey about the number of complaints she also receives in her ward, Ward 1, that is predominantly rural.

“Like, I presume most of my council, I get a plethora of calls and emails after these events or after any kind of celebration where the fireworks are going off at all hours of the night, and it is never in a positive manner,” said Kiernan.

Option 2 of the staff plan outlined was similar to option 1, but would allow fireworks to be discharged on resident properties that were at least half an acre in size.

The final option, Option 3, was to permanently ban all fireworks and firework sales in the town.

Town staff still plan to get public feedback on the plans and will return to council in early 2022 with a final bylaw to be considered.