Fireworks debate

Times Contributor 

 

Whether fireworks sale and use should be allowed in Wheatland County was discussed at the Sept. 18 council meeting.

Owner of Ace Explosives, Jim Cammaert went before council to debate the logic of developing the bylaw.

“I have transported millions of pounds of explosives across Canada. I have sat on committees and been part of the pyrotechnic and fire council. I am not an expert, but I have a good working knowledge of what the rules for handling fireworks are and what they should be. The key to running a successful plant is to lead people to do things right rather than do things wrong,” said Cammaert.

He said there should be more emphasis on making sure people handle them safely. He said when he sells fireworks, he vets the buyers and makes sure they fill out registration forms. He gives instruction on the proper use of the product. He said that Canadian standards for making and selling fireworks are one of the highest in the world and use the most reliable components. 

“Fireworks are used for celebrations all across Canada. To restrict the sale of fireworks would restrict that celebration,” said Cammaert.

He said all of the Wheatland County towns and villages come to his business for fireworks, to enhance their celebrations and there have never been any issues with their use. Out of 29,000 fireworks used in Canada there have only been 100 recorded cases of injury. There are more fires from people throwing lit cigarettes out of vehicle windows. He said that the bylaw would just create over-regulation.

The bylaw would also be impractical for many reasons. Prohibition could drive the sales underground, opening the door for poorer quality fireworks to be sold, with no accompanying training. People may buy the fireworks from Costco, dealers outside the county or the country and there is no way that the enforcers of the bylaw would know that a person had them. Alternatively, they may buy them within the county, but it would not necessarily mean they would light them off within the county. Many people take them to their cabins or other venues. There would be no feasible way to monitor it.

Prohibiting sales would have a 90 per cent drop in his sales, which would affect his employees.

Cammaert said that the Fireworks Safety Coalition is currently working with 

Alberta Ministry of Municipal Affairs to develop fire codes around the sale and use of fireworks.

Councillors and the Fire and Safety Coordinator, Gerald Skibinsky, still had concerns about individuals not handling the fireworks in a safe manner.

They acknowledged the validity of Cammaert’s discussion and asked him if he would consider working with the County Fire and Safety Coordinator to develop something that would not curtail responsible sales and certified use, but help encourage safe handling of fireworks by county residents. It was suggested that this could be forwarded to the ministry and may even be helpful for the ministry in its consideration of the provincial problem. Cammaert agreed to the arrangement and Skibinsky will bring the suggestions back to council for their consideration.