A decision that would determine the fate of the use of fireworks in the Cowichan Valley Regional District will have to wait for another day.
The district’s committee of the whole decided at its meeting on April 13 to punt the issue to the electoral areas services committee for further discussion, with the expectation that the EASC will make a recommendation to the board.
Staff had recommended that the CVRD limit fireworks permits to special events and to require that the permits be authorized by the CVRD’s board, as opposed to staff, for the first time.
RELATED STORY: CVRD CONSIDERS CURTAILING USE OF FIREWORKS, OR BANNING THEM ALTOGETHER
But Shawnigan Lake director Sierra Acton said she would not support the motion, and some other directors indicated they wouldn’t either.
Acton said the CVRD is way behind many large municipalities and other jurisdictions which have completely banned fireworks.
She pointed out that livestock and many pets are adversely impacted by the use of fireworks, and the CVRD should show some leadership and ban them as well.
“[The CVRD] has a population of just 90,000 people and we’re going to have 10 different celebrations going on, and 20 different illegal fireworks events [each year] for just 90,000 people,” she said.
“I think it’s totally unnecessary and so far behind the times that I will be voting against this motion.”
Ben Maartman, director for North Oyster/Diamond, said he represents a rural area with a lot of livestock, and fireworks are known to have negative impacts on many farm animals and pets.
“We have had a horse die because of its reaction to fireworks,” he said.
Currently, fireworks are only allowed with a permit three times a year — Halloween, New Year’s Eve and July 1 — within the CVRD, unless special permission is granted.
Ian MacDonald, the CVRD’s manager of building inspection and bylaw enforcement, said in his report to the committee that there continues to be a mixed desire from the public to permit the discharge of fireworks on private lands within the CVRD.
RELATED STORY: CVRD FAVOURS FIREWORKS BAN, BUT WORRIED ABOUT PRACTICALITY
He said most complaints received pertained to the unpermitted discharging of fireworks in areas affected by livestock, including dates and time frames outside those permitted by the bylaw.
MacDonald said while the sale of fireworks is prohibited in the CVRD, access is prevalent in neighbouring jurisdictions and online.
The contentious issue has been discussed at the CVRD for a number of years in an effort to determine the future use of fireworks in the district.
Ladysmith Mayor Aaron Stone said the town’s council is supportive of transitioning away from the use of fireworks at celebrations, and is investigating the possible use of drone light shows and other opportunities for the future.
He pointed out, in any case, the town’s legal advisers have determined that Ladysmith’s municipal bylaws supersede those of the CVRD in regards to the use of fireworks.
RELATED STORY: CVRD WON’T BAN FIREWORKS; AT LEAST NOT YET
“Our fireworks bylaws are easier to regulate and enforce within our tightly defined municipal boundaries,” Stone said.
In recognition of the fact that jurisdictions within the CVRD regarding fireworks are blurry, with each of the four municipalities having their own rules and regulations, staff are also recommending that a new bylaw be developed that would limit the CVRD’s regulations on fireworks to the nine electoral areas.
North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas said as any new rules in the CVRD on the use of fireworks would only apply to the electoral areas, he would rather defer to the preference of the directors of the electoral areas on the issue.
“We have our own fireworks regulations in North Cowichan, and I’ve heard from three electoral area directors who I think would prefer an outright prohibition on the use of fireworks,” he said.
The committee unanimously voted to refer the issue to the electoral areas services committee.
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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