Item - 2023.EC8.9

The Economic and Community Development Committee:

1. Received the report (November 14, 2023) from the Fire Chief and General Manager, Toronto Fire Services and Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, for information.

This report provides an update on actions taken to date in response to outstanding City Council directives related to consumer fireworks since the last staff report in May 2022. This includes requesting the Province of Ontario to implement changes to the Ontario Fire Code to regulate consumer fireworks, as well as exploring additional dates where fireworks may be discharged without the requirement of a specific municipal permit ("Designated Dates"), considering the feasibility of restricting the year-round sale of consumer fireworks, and a user education/training program.

Toronto Fire Services (TFS) submitted requests to the Province of Ontario in both August 2022 and September 2023 to implement necessary changes to the Ontario Fire Code to effectively regulate consumer fireworks, thereby enhancing public safety and enabling a more effective enforcement framework in the province. TFS also requested the Province to implement a centralized user education training program to increase safe and compliant use of consumer fireworks. As of the date of this report, the Province has not responded to these requests; staff will continue to monitor for a response.

The feasibility of modifications to the existing Designated Dates is premature at this point, as this determination by staff was directed to be informed by the outcome of the City's request to the Province of Ontario for a provincial framework concerning consumer fireworks regulation. As the Province has not responded to these requests, staff are not recommending an expansion of dates at this time. This report outlines factors for consideration should Council decide to modify the allocation of Designated Dates while the request to the Province of Ontario to make amendments to the Ontario Fire Code is pending.

Municipal Licensing and Standards (MLS) consulted with permanent vendors on the feasibility of restricting the sale of consumer fireworks year-round. Staff are not recommending a restriction on the sale of consumer fireworks year-round and instead recommend that the City continue to work with licensed vendors to enhance public education, supporting safe and compliant use of consumer fireworks.