Council pours cold water on backyard fires in Waterloo
The backyard fire debate in Waterloo has been put out again, with city council voting on Monday to keep the ban on open air fires.
This vote came after a survey of 2,400 people in March found 80 per cent of respondents favoured allowing fires with restrictions.
But a staff report to council suggested, even as a two year pilot project, allowing fires could cost $430,000 to manage and enforce.
"I feel my obligation in looking at that balance, and listening to both sides, is to come down on the side of needs over the sides of wants,” said councillor Jeff Henry.
Many councillors saying on Monday that they understand the benefits, but can't ignore the drawbacks or health concerns.
"I love fires, I really do. I wanted to support them. I've got a lot of great memories around fires, but I just cannot bring myself to get there based on the research. At the end of the day, smoke from wood fires does not respect property lines," added councillor Royce Bodaly.
Councillor Angela Vieth was the only one to vote against keeping the ban in place.
"Families in their backyards having a small fire now and then is the way to go and Kitchener's doing it,” said Vieth. “I can't understand why we can’t model some rules after what Kitchener does.”
Staff told council public health, public safety, risk management and complaints were the biggest drawbacks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.