‘Significant’ fireworks fines will be laid as more people breaking Mississauga’s rules: Councillor

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Published May 17, 2023 at 12:28 pm

Mississauga New Year's Eve party Dec. 31 2023

As the Victoria Day long weekend approaches, a City of Mississauga councillor is raising a red flag over concerns that many people are using fireworks irresponsibly and even dangerously.

Ward 10 Councillor Sue McFadden notes that the City has been reviewing its fireworks bylaws the past few months with an eye toward cracking down in some ways, particularly in the area of enforcement.

She added that Council will be discussing proposed bylaw changes again in June.

In the meantime, she’s not pleased with how some residents have been using fireworks and she’s promising there will be hefty fines if bylaws are broken this weekend. Monday (May 22) is the only day of the long weekend on which fireworks on private property are allowed.

“The Victoria Day long weekend signals the unofficial start of summer for many. And for a long time, the statutory holiday on the Monday has been celebrated with fireworks,” McFadden told Ward 10 residents in her latest newsletter. “This celebratory expression has come under scrutiny of late as the pyrotechnics have gotten bigger, shows have become longer, later and more frequent (not just on the holiday Monday, but throughout the weekend, and even on non-holiday weekends now).

“For the vast majority of people, setting off a few fireworks at a reasonable hour on the holiday is not a concern worth complaining about. They would agree that the current bylaws would be sufficient, if only people obeyed them,” she continued. “But some are taking liberties and the amount of fireworks along with the noise, litter and potential dangers and risks has become too much to bear.”

The councillor added that the City will step up enforcement this weekend and that “…fines will be issued as resources allow. And they will be significant.”

City officials, who are in the midst of considering changes to fireworks regulations, remind residents of some of the regulations governing use of fireworks:

  • residents are not permitted to set off fireworks in a street, public property (parks, etc.), a parking lot or any private property that is not their own
  • fireworks on private property may only be set off on the statutory holiday (May 22). If it rains on Victoria Day, residents are permitted to set off fireworks the day after the holiday (May 23)
  • fireworks are only permitted until midnight
  • to use fireworks on private property any other day of the year, residents must obtain a permit from Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services
  • the sale of fireworks in Mississauga requires a licence issued by City of Mississauga bylaw enforcement staff

Visit the City of Mississauga website for more information on making complaints.

To report fireworks located on private property, residents can call the City’s 311 information line.

To file a complaint related to fireworks use on public roadways, call Peel Regional Police at 905-453-3111.

For complaints about use of fireworks in City parks and at schools, call 905-615-4060.

For all other firework enquiries, call Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services at 905-456-5700.

Mississauga bylaw enforcement officers are also out in force this week looking for vendors who may be illegally selling fireworks in advance of the Victoria Day long weekend.

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