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No more fireworks, bylaw to be enforced
Mac Olsen
for South Peace News
The Town of High Prairie will enforce its bylaw banning the sale and use of fireworks within the community.
The protective services committee gave peace officer Alan Bloom direction to enforce it after discussion about an e-mail during their Nov. 20 meeting.
Daniel Pato sent an e-mail to council requesting detailed information about his plan to sell “low-hazard (consumer, family) fireworks in the municipality of High Prairie.”
“We are planning to sell fireworks in this municipality and want to confirm that we are operating in accordance with all municipal regulations,” says Pato, customer service and account manager for Kaboom Fireworks Inc. in Toronto, Ont.
However, Bloom replied to Pato, explaining fireworks are banned in High Prairie and sent a copy of the bylaw to him.
Fire chief Ken Melnyk raised safety issues, such as igniting dry grass accidentally.
Committee member Wayne Forrester says if there’s a bylaw banning fireworks, it should be enforced. Bloom and Melnyk will go to businesses in High Prairie which are selling fireworks and announce their intention to enforce it.
Under the bylaw, fire bans include the lighting of fireworks. It also stipulates, “No person shall have in his/her possession, sell, offer for sale, give away or otherwise distribute, discharge, fire or set off any type of fireworks within the town limits, unless acceptable by the fire chief or peace officer.”
Committee member Jeff Burgar made a motion to repeal the bylaw, but Forrester and David Vanderwell voted it down.
Burgar is disappointed, as it forces residents to shop out of town and punishes local businesses.
“Everybody enjoys fireworks. It’s regrettable we’re telling people who use them safely, they have to shop out of town,” Burgar says.
Some people use them unsafely, but they are a very small minority, he adds.
Pato’s request is not the first time the committee has dealt with the fireworks issue. During the Oct. 14 meeting, they turned down a request by the High Prairie Beautification Society to have a fireworks display as part of Winter Light-Up celebrations.
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