A motion by MP Denis Keenan and seconded by MP Gurpreet Singh Toor at a parliamentary committee meeting was passed unanimously in favor of the ban.
Posted on – Thursday, November 24, 2022 at 09:30 AM
Toronto: The Canadian city of Brampton on Thursday unanimously filed a motion to ban fireworks following a surge in complaints after Diwali in October.
A motion by MP Denis Keenan and seconded by MP Gurpreet Singh Toor at a parliamentary committee meeting was passed unanimously in favor of the ban.
“The people of #Brampton have spoken. These fireworks issues were heard loud and clear on our doorsteps during the last election,” Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown tweeted.
“Today I introduced a motion, Councilor Gurpartap S. Toor seconded, to ban the use and sale of fireworks in @CityBrampton and increase the current fines. The motion passed unanimously,” Keenan wrote on his Twitter account.
In 2022, the city’s Service Brampton team received 1,491 fireworks-related calls, up from 492 in 2018.
Of these, more than 1,000 fireworks complaints were received during the Diwali celebrations in October.
“With the significant increase in resident fireworks complaints, and the unanimous vote to pass my motion, it is clear that the current fireworks by-laws need to be amended and tougher penalties,” said Keenan, Councilman for Districts 3 and 4, in the motion.
Law enforcement officials have issued nearly $38,500 in fireworks fines this year.
Currently, owners can be issued a $250 to $350 penalty notice or a $500 to $5,000 court fine, Brampton’s Enforcement and By-Law Services reported.
Under the new Fireworks Regulations, the use, purchase, display, possession, sale and offer for sale of all fireworks, including consumer fireworks, display fireworks, pyrotechnics and prohibited fireworks, are prohibited for all uses in Brampton.
This excludes events held by the film industry and cities.
At the next city council meeting, the current fine will also be approved.
“Increased fines for possessing and distributing fireworks, as well as this year’s New Year’s Eve enforcement blitz, demonstrate the city’s strong disapproval of personal fireworks,” said Councilman Tull, of the 9th and 10th Districts.
Brampton will also host a $20,000 fireworks campaign to educate the public about the changes, according to insauga.com.
Just after Diwali this year, Brampton residents launched a change.org petition to limit the use of firecrackers, which has so far collected more than 8,500 signatures.
