Councillors in Gibsons say they’re open to reviewing the Town’s fireworks bylaw, but it’s not a top priority.
Coun. Annemarie De Andrade brought the motion for a review forward at the Nov. 3 council meeting, and it was back on the agenda for discussion Nov. 17.
De Andrade said based on the complaints she heard and what she experienced herself, the number and noise of fireworks set off in Gibsons on Oct. 31 was “not just like regular fireworks.”
The Town’s current bylaw allows people to set off fireworks if they have a permit. Only one permit was issued this year.
De Andrade said she proposed the review because she wanted to start the conversation around whether the Town should move toward a similar ban as Vancouver recently imposed or other measures as Gibsons becomes more densely populated and increasingly urban.
“I understand that many people love fireworks and I love them myself, but at the same time I saw a lot of complaints,” she said. “There’s a lot of people that have concerns.”
Coun. Stafford Lumley said he’s open to having further discussions about the fireworks bylaw, but added: “I don’t think anyone’s naive enough not to know what the councillor has brought this forward for. I'm sure Coun. De Andade wants to abolish fireworks, which is OK. That’s what she believes, some people don’t.”
For councillors Aleria Ladwig and David Croal, the issue wasn’t fireworks themselves, but the Town’s ability to enforce the bylaw that’s already on the books.
“We can’t even enforce what we currently have,” Ladwig said. “Unless we’re about to get a second bylaw officer, I don’t know how we’re going to improve the situation.”
Ladwig also said with two years left in council’s term and lots of other priorities on the table, she’s not sure a fireworks bylaw review is the best use of staff time.
Croal said, “To me, it becomes a huge issue of bylaw enforcement if people aren't taking out permits and are buying fireworks elsewhere and setting them off.”
Mayor Bill Beamish said a discussion about the fireworks bylaw is “probably valuable, but it’s not top of mind right now.”
Council voted unanimously to move the review of the bylaw into next spring.
