Vancouver city council approves fireworks ban

Vancouver city council has voted to ban the sale and use of consumer fireworks by 2021. 

Councillors voted 7-3 in favour of the motion at a meeting Tuesday afternoon, and staff have been directed to come up with a plan for implementation.

Currently, retail sales of fireworks are allowed between Oct. 25 and Oct. 31 in the city.

Green Party Coun. Pete Fry, who proposed the ban, said that fireworks, in the future, will be enjoyed in a more controlled manner at public events that have proper permits.

"If we have sort of sanctioned community events where proper permits are applied for, there's a specific date, time and location, people can anticipate it."

Fry told council before the vote that he suffers from PTSD and he later described groups that are adversely affected by noise and light from fireworks.

"... It's no fun for people who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder, children with neurodivergence and autism, for veterans, for people fleeing war-torn regions and people who have pets who are absolutely spooked and traumatized by fireworks every year."

The motion says staff should consider exemptions for public events like Canada Day and the Celebration of Light, as well as cultural celebrations like Diwali or Chinese New Year.

But not all of council agreed. 

"Every time I think of fireworks, I think of fun," said Mayor Kennedy Stewart. 

He voted against the ban, alongside Coun. Michael Wiebe and Coun. Melissa De Genova. Wiebe said the ban on retail sales will lead to less education about the dangers of fireworks. 

Coun. Colleen Hardwick abstained from the vote.

Staff with the City of Vancouver are now tasked with drafting a bylaw which will go to city council for a final vote on the proposed ban.

Fireworks advocates want to pressure politicians

The Canadian National Fireworks Association and fireworks retailers in Vancouver advocated for the retail sale of fireworks during a public hearing in October and hope the battle isn't over.

Spokesperson Melanie Sutherland is urging the public to contact city councillors to sway them ahead of a final decision on the bylaw.

"The ability to want to use them for Halloween will not go away. We just now can't educate at point of sale."

Sutherland said fireworks will still be available online and is concerned about underground sales.

Vancouver Fire supports fireworks ban

Vancouver Fire Rescue Services spokesperson Jonathan Gormick said the numbers of incidents involving fireworks are increasing each year. 

Gormick said a new bylaw would mean fewer fireworks in the hands of the public so less damage and property loss.

"Year after year, we see an average dollar loss that's close to $400,000 [per year]."

During this Halloween period, he said Vancouver firefighters attended 20 structure fires related to fireworks.

City staff are expected to present a draft of the fireworks ban bylaw to council next year.