Some new by-laws to keep in mind have been passed by the city.
They were recently approved by Thunder Bay’s City Council, and focus on regulating firework discharge and sale, as well as address the issue of abandoned shopping carts.
The new fireworks by-law will come into effect immediately, with some of the key points being:
• Fireworks may be discharged on the evening of and the evening before the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Canada Day, August Civic Holiday
• Fireworks may be discharged on the entire day of the Lunar New Year, but not the evening
before
• In addition to Canada Day and the evening before Canada Day: if Canada Day falls on a Monday or Tuesday fireworks may be discharged on the evening of the Saturday prior to Canada Day; if Canada Day falls on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, fireworks may be discharged on the Saturday after Canada Day
• Fireworks may not be discharged at any other time without a specific permit
• Fireworks may only be offered for sale on New Year’s Day, Canada Day and August Civic Holiday, and the seven business days prior to these holidays
• Property owners/tenants as well as those discharging fireworks are responsible for the discharge of fireworks on any specific property
• A new system of fines is in place for multiple or repeated offences
• Property owners/tenants can be billed for the full cost of emergency responses in the case of nuisance events
The shopping cart by-law will be coming into effect in May, 2022.
Some of the important things to note include:
• It is an offence to abandon a shopping cart off the owner’s property
• By May 15, 2022, all shopping carts in use must have identification plates/stickers affixed with owner’s contact information
• By May 30, 2022, owners of shopping carts must submit to the City their plan for management, control and recovery of their carts
More details regarding the responsibility of shopping cart owners will be made available on the city’s website in the near future.
