Algonquin Highlands council is again kicking tires on reducing the number of days residents can set off fireworks in the township.
At an Aug. 15 meeting, environmental manager Melissa Murray released results from a monthslong survey, released on the ‘Bang the Table’ forum and distributed to all local lake associations, asking the public’s opinion on firework use. There were 520 respondents, with 65 per cent saying the pyrotechnics should be completely banned.
In 2020, the township limited the number of days fireworks can be used to five – for Canada Day, Victoria Day, New Year’s Eve, the August Civic Holiday, and Labour Day.
Coun. Lisa Barry said she felt fireworks have lost their spark and, for environmental concerns alone, would be in favour of scaling back.
“They’ve become used so often that they’re no longer spectacular. You’ll hear them on a Tuesday night in the middle of June for no apparent reason,” Barry said.
Coun. Julia Shortreed suggested limiting fireworks to twice yearly – suggesting Canada Day and the Civic Holiday. In the survey, 317 of 411 respondents said they’re in favour of fireworks on Canada Day, with 167 wanting to maintain New Year’s Eve, 86 for Victoria Day, 69 for Civic Holiday, and 24 for Labour Day.
Deputy mayor Jennifer Dailloux asked that council consider banning fireworks on Victoria Day, with May a key month for bird migration and nesting seasons.
“Environmentally, that is the worst time you can put on a fireworks display,” Dailloux said. Commenting on the survey results, she added, “there’s clearly an appetite for change.”
But Coun. Sabrina Richards disagrees. With the township’s summer population estimated at about 8,000 people, she believes implementing changes based on the thoughts of fewer than 10 per cent of residents would be a mistake. She said council needs more data from taxpayers, and experts, to make an informed decision.
“I haven’t gotten enough evidence to see if that is a thing, if fireworks impact bird patterns,” Richards said, responding to Dailloux. “We’ve been lighting fireworks for over 100 years.”
Danielsen warned that even if the township clamps down on firework use, it’ll be difficult to punish violators. She said, in most cases, by the time the township is able to respond to a complaint, the fireworks are over. For someone to be issued a ticket, there needs to be proof clearly showing someone setting off fireworks, with a date and time stamp.
CAO Angie Bird said the township received seven fireworks-related complaints in 2023, but none so far this year.
Dysart et al, Highlands East, and Minden Hills all allow fireworks on Canada Day, Victoria Day, New Year’s Eve, the August Civic Holiday, and Labour Day. There have been calls to limit them – Susan Hay, representing Environment Haliburton! last year called on the County to ban all personal displays and fireworks sales in the Highlands.
Hay said fireworks are toxic, put aquatic health at risk, cause extreme stress in birds, wildlife and pets, reduce quality of life for people, and add to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. She noted most fireworks are imported from China, without restrictions on materials being used. Chemicals such as perchlorate, strontium, copper, titanium, barium, rubidium, cadmium, chlorine, and lead can irritate lungs and eyes, she said.
They can also be a significant fire hazard, with Hay saying sources suggest 20,000 to 30,000 fires are started each year due to fireworks.
Council agreed to extend its fireworks survey for another couple of months, giving residents until Oct. 31 to have their voices heard.
To take the survey, visit letsconnectalgonquinhighlands.ca.
