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e-3591 (Public safety)
Original language of petition: English
Petition to the Government of Canada
- Wildfires are a growing concern across Canada and fireworks have been documented to be sources of wildfire ignition;
- Consumer use of fireworks has caused significant structure fires and even human deaths both in manufacturing warehouses and on private properties;
- Fireworks are a source of pollution and toxic debris, and can adversely impact environmental and human health through water and soil contamination, and reduced air quality;
- Fire and police are stretched to respond to misuse of fireworks calls, particularly on holidays, affecting their ability to respond to other public safety concerns;
- Public Health Infobase Canada reports that the most common type of injuries related to fireworks are burns;
- Fireworks can traumatize refugees and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and those with sensory difficulties;
- National parks are transitioning from fireworks displays to special effect pyrotechnics to reduce the impact on wildlife;
- Animal welfare organizations across Canada consider fireworks to be a serious health and welfare risk to pets, farm animals and wildlife;
- Animal welfare organizations further explain that fireworks cause death, illness, injury, and stress to animals in our communities;
- The sales, distribution, and discharge of consumer fireworks are regulated by a patchwork approach in provinces and municipalities; and
- Municipalities have not been effective at addressing the above concerns.
Response by the Minister of Natural Resources
Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, P.C., M.P.
The Explosives Act and the Explosives Regulations, 2013 administered by the Government of Canada, provides a comprehensive framework related to explosives safety. Included in this framework are controls on manufacturing, sale, storage, and use of fireworks.
The Government of Canada works to ensure fireworks are safe for use by the public in a number of ways, including:
- Each firework must have detailed instructions for use on their label.
- Retailers who sell fireworks must include an information sheet with each sale that describes additional guidelines for the safe handling of fireworks.
- Outreach materials such as educational videos, brochures, and safety alerts are available from the Government of Canada to further support safe use.
- All chemical compositions in fireworks are assessed and evaluated to ensure there are no prohibited chemicals.
- Consumer fireworks are evaluated before they are placed on the Canadian market using the Authorization Guidelines for Consumer and Display Fireworks, which detail the acceptance criteria for fireworks.
- Fireworks are regularly tested at the Government’s, Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory to ensure they meet the strict criteria. During these tests, the sound levels for the fireworks are routinely measured to confirm they are under the noise thresholds.
It is the responsibility of the user to read safety instructions and use fireworks in accordance with them. Users are also responsible to ensure compliance with any applicable rules or regulations that govern the use of fireworks in their community.
The Government of Canada is committed to the well-being of our communities and will continue to explore ways, including policy, regulatory and legislative revisions, to further promote the responsible and safe use of consumer fireworks across Canada.
March 23, 2022 (Petition No. 441-00242)
Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.
| Province / Territory | Signatures |
|---|---|
| Alberta | 320 |
| British Columbia | 11629 |
| Manitoba | 94 |
| New Brunswick | 93 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 15 |
| Northwest Territories | 6 |
| Nova Scotia | 372 |
| Ontario | 1297 |
| Prince Edward Island | 18 |
| Quebec | 149 |
| Saskatchewan | 56 |
| Yukon | 8 |