The Town of Huntsville has launched a survey to gather public input on the regulation of fireworks, after receiving a petition to ban them earlier this year.
The survey, which can be accessed online at myhuntsville.ca, asks residents for their feedback on consumer fireworks and display fireworks.
According to officials, consumer fireworks are low-hazard outdoor fireworks designed for recreational purposes, such as celebrating a statutory holiday or personal event, and can be purchased from licensed retailers.
Display fireworks are high-hazard outdoor fireworks designed for use by professionally licensed individuals and are authorized through the Huntsville Lake of Bays Fire Department.
According to officials, this public engagement campaign was launched after residents presented a petition to ban fireworks at a Huntsville council committee meeting in June. Following this meeting, staff launched a review of the municipal fireworks bylaw.
Huntsville’s current fireworks bylaw allows consumer fireworks to be set off on any weekend between 6:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. and on statutory holidays, including New Year’s Eve, Victoria Day, Canada Day, and Labour Day, between 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
The current bylaw for display fireworks states they can only be set off on days specified by the Explosives Act and only by individuals who hold a valid Display Supervisor certificate.
Staff will present the survey results and recommendations to council at a later date.
The survey is open until Oct. 3 at 5 p.m.
