Brampton motion to ban fireworks passes unanimously at committee meeting

The motion put forward on Wednesday, if approved by council, would see Brampton’s fireworks bylaw amended to ban all fireworks except those by film crews or at city-run events.

Thestar.com, CP24.com, Toronto.citynews.ca
Nov. 25, 2022
Isaac Phan Nay
Janiece Campbell

A motion to ban fireworks has passed unanimously at a Brampton Committee of Council meeting.

Regional councillor Dennis Keenan brought forward the motion on Wednesday that was seconded by Gurpartap Singh Toor. According to a press release Keenan posted on Twitter, Brampton’s fireworks bylaw will be ratified at the next city council meeting.

Currently, Brampton residents are permitted to use fireworks that travel less than three metres on four days per year: Victoria Day, Canada Day, Diwali and New Year’s Eve.

If passed at council’s next regular meeting, the proposal will ban the use, purchase, discharge, possession and sale of all fireworks in Brampton, including consumer and display fireworks, pyrotechnics and already-prohibited fireworks.

Fines for improper firework usage will also be increased.

The motion for the ban came only weeks after an online petition reached over 8,500 signatures in support of firework restrictions.

Narbir Gosal, 42, is a Brampton resident in support of the ban. He recalls hearing fireworks in his area until 3 a.m. during the entire weekend prior to the celebration, and until 4 a.m. on the day of. “Trying to go to sleep was a chore,” Gosal told the Star.

Having lived in Brampton all of his life, he says that Diwali celebrations in the city have gotten progressively more disorderly each year.

“Over the past four to five years, it’s become a situation where the fireworks are going on past midnight. It’s a norm in India for fireworks to go on all night and it’s because it’s a holiday there,” says Gosal. “There’s no reason to celebrate until 4 a.m.”

The film industry and the city of Brampton will still be able to put on displays, Toor said in an interview with the Star. Brampton residents can still expect large fireworks displays on Canada Day and New Year’s Eve, Toor said, and the city will also host a fireworks display next year to celebrate Diwali.

“There’s a little child in all of us even though that loves to see fireworks, so we don’t want to take that celebration away,” Toor said.

Toor said fireworks prohibition was met with an “overwhelmingly positive” response.

“My phone has been buzzing since yesterday,” Toor said. “People are super pleased.”

On Thursday afternoon, Toor said out of the 400 messages he had received about fireworks, three called the proposed amendment “unfair.”

“That is also unfair -- for someone to personally have a good time and enjoy, when that comes at the expense of others,” Toor said.

“I understand the sentiment that some people are disappointed. But they’re the ones that thought they were doing (fireworks) safely and are no longer able to do so.”

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown tweeted about the motion on Thursday, saying, “The people of #Brampton have spoken. We heard these fireworks concerns loud and clear at the door steps during the recent election.”

The motion comes as the city sees an increase in firework incidents.

According to the press release, the city received 1,491 calls with complaints related to fireworks so far this year. That’s almost three times the 492 fireworks calls the city received last year.

The Town of Caledon became the first of the three municipalities in the Region of Peel to ban fireworks earlier this year in April.

This summer, two teenage boys set off fireworks on a GO train. In July, a man set off fireworks inside the Scotiabank Arena during a Dua Lipa concert, injuring some fans.

Last month, Environment and Climate Change Canada issued an air quality statement that initially said the agency anticipated fireworks during Diwali to lead to “high levels of air pollution.”

The agency later removed mention of the specific event after outcry that the major Hindu holiday was singled out unfairly, but maintained concerns about air quality.

Last month, residents of Brampton began to call for tighter firework restrictions after Diwali celebrations led to a flood of noise complaints and reports of dangerous use of fireworks, including a police investigation into a fight involving 400 to 500 people.

Gosal isn’t confident that an amended bylaw will be able to prevent residents from using at-home fireworks. “I don’t see it being enforceable … I don’t know if Brampton has the bylaw manpower to make sure people are following the rules.” With the ban being solely Brampton-wide, many worry that people will just purchase fireworks in neighbouring cities.

Toor said the fireworks restriction meant he would change how he celebrated Diwali next year. Instead of using fireworks himself, Toor said his family would join other Brampton residents for the city’s public display.

“In my capacity, I don’t think I could put up a fireworks display bigger than the city does,” Toor said.

“I am excited about it, and the little child in me is also excited about it.”

Brampton City Council will still need to ratify the amendment at a special meeting after its planning and development committee meets on Monday.

Brampton’s next regular city council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 14.