Nam Kiwanuka sits at the newsdesk in the Agenda studio. She wears a blue blazer over her black blouse. Her long curly auburn hair is pulled back tightly and braided. The white brick walls of the studio are lit with soft blue light while a large graphic behind Nam features a red lowercase ?a? on a white background. Nam clasps her hands as she rests her arms on the desk. A glass of water and Nam?s notes are placed in front of her.

Text reads, ?Should Cities Ban Fireworks??.

Text continues, ?Nam Kiwanuka @NamShine @TheAgenda?.

Nam begins,
WHILE MANY PEOPLE ABSOLUTELY
CAN'T WAIT FOR EVENTS SUCH AS
CANADA DAY FIREWORKS DISPLAYS,
OTHERS WISH THAT HE HAD NEVER
BEEN INVENTED.
THAT'S LED SOME COMMUNITIES IN
ONTARIO TO FURTHER RESTRICT AND
EVEN BAN PERSONAL FIREWORKS.
WITH US FOR BOTH PERSPECTIVES,
GURPARTAP SINGH TOOR, REGIONAL
COUNCILLOR FOR WARDS NINE AND
TEN FOR THE CITY OF BRAMPTON.
AND ALEEM KANJI, CHIEF
ADVOCACY OFFICER FOR THE
CANADIAN NATIONAL FIREWORKS
ASSOCIATION.
HI TO YOU BOTH.

Gurpartap asks, HOW ARE YOU?

Nam replies,
I'M GOOD.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO AN
EXPLOSIVE DEBATE -- GET IT?
I'M GLAD YOU ASKED.
MOM JOKES, MOM JOKES.
BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS,
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY BOTH OF YOU
HAVE VERY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES
ON THIS.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND THE
PROVINCE ARE HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION.
GURPARTAP, I WANTED TO START
WITH YOU.
WHY DID BRAMPTON CITY COUNCIL
BAN FIREWORKS?

Text reads, ?Gurpartap Singh Toor, Brampton City Councillor?.

Gurpartap sits beside Nam at the Agenda desk. Neatly organized books fill the shelves behind him. Gurpartap wears a dark grey suit and a light blue turban. His long dark beard grows down to his chest and greys slightly under his chin.

Gurpartap answers,
IN THE YEARS OF PAST COUNCILS
WE'VE SEEN TALKS AND DEBATE
ABOUT LIMITING AND RESTRICTING
USES OF FIREWORKS.
SOLUTIONS THAT WEREN'T REALLY
ENFORCEABLE.
AND POST PANDEMIC, WE SEE A LOT
OF CELEBRATIONS, A LOT OF PEOPLE
COME OUT.
A LOT OF PARTIES, A LOT OF
WEDDINGS, A LOT OF CELEBRATIONS
IN GENERAL.
AND LAST SUMMER WAS ONE OF OUR
WILDEST I WOULD SAY IN TERMS OF
FIREWORKS.
YOU KNOW, IN THE CITY WE ONLY
ALLOWED FOUR DAYS OF FIREWORKS.
LEGALLY YOU WERE ALLOWED TO DO
FIREWORKS ON FOUR DIFFERENT
OCCASIONS BUT THROUGHOUT THE
SUMMER WE SAW FIREWORKS FROM
WEDNESDAYS, THURSDAYS, FRIDAY --
MAYBE MONDAY AND TUESDAY WERE
THE RAREST DAYS YOU WOULDN'T SEE
FIREWORKS.
BUT WE HAD A LOT OF FIREWORKS
GOING OFF IN OUR CITY AND THAT'S
SOMETHING WE HEARD CONSISTENTLY
THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.
THAT'S WHEN I WAS CAMPAIGNING.
WHEN I CAME IN NEW YEAR'S, WE
GOT SWORN IN IN NOVEMBER.
AND NEW YEAR'S WAS THE NEXT
OPPORTUNITY THAT WE KNEW PEOPLE
WOULD BE DOING FIREWORKS.
AND THAT'S THE DAY THAT WE
TYPICALLY ALLOWED PEOPLE TO DO
FIREWORKS.
SO WE DECIDED TO TAKE BOLD
ACTION AND SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
AND WE DECIDED TO BAN THE
PERSONAL USE OF FIREWORKS IN THE
CITY.

Nam notes,
YOU SAY IT'S BOLD ACTION TO DO
THIS.

Gurpartap responds,YES.

Nam says,
I THINK WITH FIREWORKS I THINK A
LOT OF US, WHEN WE HEAR
FIREWORKS OR SEE FIREWORKS,
WE'RE CELEBRATING SOMETHING.
BUT THEY'RE ALSO VERY NOISY.
WHAT TYPES OF FIREWORKS ARE
BANNED IN BRAMPTON?

Text reads, ?Gurpartap Singh Toor, @GurpartapSToor?.

Gurpartap states,
ALL PERSONAL USE FIREWORKS.
ANY FIREWORKS THAT YOU CAN SET
OFF FROM YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY,
THEY'RE ALL BANNED.

Nam asks,
BUT IF THE CITY HAS AN EVENT?

Gurpartap notes,
THE CITY HAS THEIR OWN FIREWORKS
DISPLAY ON CANADA DAY, ON NEW
YEAR'S AND NOW FOR
THE FIRST TIME WE'LL HAVE ONE ON
DIVALI AS WELL.
BUT THOSE ARE CITY-LED.
PROFESSIONALLY DONE WITH
PYROTECHNICS AND ALL THE
SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE.
THOSE ARE THE ONLY FIREWORKS
THAT ARE ALLOWED IN THE CITY OF
BRAMPTON NOW.

Nam says,
ALEEM, I SAW YOU WANTING TO GET
IN ON THE DISCUSSION.
WHAT IS THE CANADIAN FIREWORKS
ASSOCIATION VIEW ON THIS?

Text reads, ?Aleem Kanji, Canadian National Fireworks Association?

Aleem sits to Gurpartap?s left at the desk. A painting of the Ontario Legislature building hangs from the wall behind him. Aleem wears a grey suit with a striped silver tie. His head is shaved bald.

Aleem responds,
SURE, WE ASK CAN TALK ABOUT
THAT AND BRAMPTON AS WELL.
THE CANADIAN NATIONAL FIREWORKS
ASSOCIATION FOR BACKGROUND
REPRESENTS OVER THREE THOUSAND
MANUFACTURERS, VENDORS, PEOPLE
IN THE BUSINESS OF SELLING
FIREWORKS.
THE VERY LEGAL AND PERMISSIBLE
PRODUCT SET OF OVER FOUR
THOUSAND FIREWORKS THAT ARE
APPROVED, TESTED STRENUOUSLY BY
OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
IMPLEMENTED AND REGULATED BY
FIRE CODES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
AMONGST FIRE CHIEFS AND IN
MUNICIPALITIES.
AND OUR POSITION IS THAT THE
VERY LEGAL INDUSTRY OF FIREWORKS
SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE USED.
BRAMPTON, IN FACT, BEFORE THE
COUNCILLOR MENTIONED THE BOLD
ACTION THAT THEY MADE, AND, OF
COURSE, THERE WAS NO PUBLIC
CONSULTATION.
IT WAS THREE WEEKS INTO HIS TERM
OF OFFERS.

Nam notes,
HE SAID HE HEARD THIS CONCERN AT
THE DOORS.

Aleem continues,
SURE, DURING THE CAMPAIGN BUT
HE GETS ELECTED AND THEY DO THIS
THREE WEEKS AFTER COMING INTO
OFFICE.
SO THERE WAS NO PUBLIC CONSULT.
IN FACT, THERE WERE ABOUT
TWENTY-THREE PEOPLE WHO SHOWED
UP ON THE 28TH OF NOVEMBER IN 2022
ALL FORCEFULLY SPEAKING OF WHY
WE SHOULD HAVE THIS.
CULTURAL REASONS I KNOW WE'LL
GET TO THAT LATER.
AND THERE WASN'T ONE QUESTION
ASKED BY ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL
AS TO WHY THE COMMUNITY ACTUALLY
WANTS TO KEEP IT IN PLACE.
AND SO OUR POSITION HAS ALWAYS
BEEN TO USE THE PRODUCT SAFELY
AND RESPECTFULLY.

Aleem holds up a brochure.

He adds,
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR PROGRAM
THAT REMINDS PEOPLE TO USE THE
PRODUCT SAFELY, PREPARE AHEAD OF
TIME, RESPECT YOUR COMMUNITY,
YOUR ENVIRONMENT.
AND WE WERE VERY PROUD TO
LAUNCH THE CAMPAIGN EXCLUSIVELY
IN BRAMPTON IN PUNJABI.
THE CHALLENGE IS, AS THE
COUNCILLOR SAID IN THE VERY BOLD
ACTION THEY TOOK, YOU CAN'T BAN
THINGS THAT ARE LEGAL.
YOU MAKE IT MORE ENTICING TO DO
IT.
AND BY BANNING THINGS THAT ARE
ILLEGAL, YOU'RE ENTICING -- AND
YOU ARE ACTUALLY SUPPORTING AN
ILLEGAL UNDERGROUND BLACK
MARKET BY DOING THAT.
YOU CAN'T HAVE THINGS THAT ARE
LEGAL WHERE PEOPLE CAN SIMPLY
BUY ONLINE.
WE SAW A LOT OF THAT DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
AND ALSO WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO IS
THEY CAN HOP OVER TO TORONTO,
THEY CAN GO TO MISSISSAUGA.
THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO LEAVE
THEIR HOME.
AS I SAID, BRAMPTON IS A CENTRE --
AS WE SAW DURING THE PANDEMIC,
FOR LOGISTICS, TRANSPORTATION.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE
THAT WORK IN THE TRUCKING
INDUSTRY IN BRAMPTON.
THOSE PEOPLE, THOSE MEN AND
WOMEN THAT KEPT US ALIVE DURING
THE PANDEMIC TRANSPORTING GOODS
ALSO TRANSPORT FIREWORKS.
THAT IS NOW ILLEGAL IN BRAMPTON.

Nam says,
YOU'VE USED THE WORD "LEGAL" A
COUPLE OF TIMES AND I WANTED TO
GET THE COUNCILLOR TO RESPOND.

Gurpartap states,
IT'S ONLY LEGAL UNTIL IT'S NOT.
AND IN THE CITY OF BRAMPTON NOW,
THE USE AND SALE OF THESE
FIREWORKS IS CONSIDERED ILLEGAL.

Nam responds,
I THINK THE POINT YOU'RE TRYING TO
MAKE IS THAT IT'S LEGAL FEDERALLY?

Aleem notes,
IT IS A FEDERALLY, LEGAL SET OF
FOUR THOUSAND PRODUCTS.

Nam asks,
YOU ARE SAYING THE CITY OF
BRAMPTON IS NOT IN A POSITION
TO BAN IT?

Aleem replies,
THE CITY OF BRAMPTON HAS MADE
THEIR DECISION ON THE SALE AND
USE OF IT.
AND I'M HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT
ENFORCEMENT AND HOW THAT'S NOT
POSSIBLE.

Nam says,
LET ME ASK THE COUNCILLOR: HOW
DO YOU ENFORCE THE BAN?

Gurpartap responds,
THAT'S THE KEY PIECE HERE THAT
WE'RE NOT SPEAKING ABOUT IS THE
ENFORCEMENT.
BEFORE I TOOK OFFICE, WE HAD
CERTAIN RULES AND RESTRICTIONS
THAT I BELIEVE PREVIOUS COUNCILS
HAD WORKED WITH THE ASSOCIATION
TO SET IN PLACE.
BUT THERE ARE FIREWORKS THAT
TRAVEL MORE THAN THREE METRES
OR TEN FEET THOSE ARE CONSIDERED
ILLEGAL.
THERE ARE TALKS AROUND IT.
BUT YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW
DIFFICULT IT IS TO ENFORCE THAT.
WHEN, IF I'M A BYLAW OFFICER I
GOT A COMPLAINT THAT THIS HOUSE
IS SETTING OFF FIREWORKS.
I SHOW UP TO THE PROPERTY.
HOW AM I TO DETERMINE IF THAT'S
TRAVELLED MORE THAN THREE
METRES OR NOT.
AND THEN THE SALE OF FIREWORKS
IS STILL, AGAIN, THE QUESTION
THAT ALTHOUGH IT WAS ILLEGAL TO
SELL FIREWORKS THAT ARE LONGER
THAN THREE METERS IN DISTANCE.
BUT BY THE SAME STORY YOU ARE
SEEING THEM SELLING FIREARMS
THAT ARE ILLEGAL.
THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS AND
SO DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE THAT
WITH A BLANKET BAN SIMPLY NOW
THAT ANY FIREWORKS YOU CAN GO IN
AND ISSUE A TICKET.

Nam notes,
HE SAYS YOU CAN GET THEM ON THE
BLACK MARKET.

Text reads, ?Aleem Kanji, ?@C_NFA?.

Aleem adds,
YOU CAN GET THEM ONLINE.
THIS THREE METRE RULE THAT THE
COUNCILLOR MENTIONS THIS IS THE
ONLY CITY IN CANADA THAT IMPOSED
A RULE THAT ARE THREE METRES OR
LESS.
THE FIREWORKS THAT ARE USED, IT
WOULD BASICALLY AMOUNT TO
SPARKLERS ON BIRTHDAY CAKES
THAT COULD BE USED.
WHEN THEY HAD THE THREE METRE
RULE OR LESS -- WHICH IS NOW A
BLANKET BAN -- WHICH BASICALLY
MEANS WHEN THEY HAD THE THREE
METRE RULE IN PLACE YOU ARE
ALLOWED TO USE SPARKLERS ON
BIRTHDAY CAKES WHICH NOW
BECAUSE OF A BLANKET BAN ARE
COMPLETELY ILLEGAL.
THE ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITIES AS
THE COUNCILLOR SAID TO THE
CHAMBER ARE WOEFUL.
THEY'RE IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT.

Nam asks,
WHAT'S THE POINT OF BANNING IT IF
YOU CAN'T ENFORCE IT?

Gurpartap states,
NOW WE'RE ABLE TO ENFORCE IT.
WITH THE BAN IN PLACE NOW, THE
AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS WE GET ARE
OFTEN ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE
COMPLAINTS BUT ALSO WITH THE
BAN, THE NEWS THAT IT'S
GENERATED, PEOPLE REALIZE NOW
THERE IS A BAN IN PLACE.
PEOPLE REALIZE THE USE OF
FIREWORKS IS ILLEGAL.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S USUALLY --
LIKE WE SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER, IT'S
USUALLY FAMILY CELEBRATIONS YOU
GO OUT AND YOU BUY FIREWORKS.
NOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT IT'S
ILLEGAL AS THE HEAD OF THE
FAMILY OR THE PERSON GOING OUT
TO PURCHASE THOSE FOR EXAMPLE.
YOU MAKE A POSITION TO SET AN
EXAMPLE FOR THEIR KIDS AND SAY
THIS IS ILLEGAL.
WE HOPE NO ONE PLAINS.
THAT BEHAVIOUR STARTS TO GET.
CURBED .

Nam asks, IS THAT BANNING?

Gurpartap replies,
I DON'T THINK THAT'S RESULTED IN
MUCH.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EDUCATION AND
WE TALK ABOUT THE FIREWORKS
ASSOCIATION, A MEMBER OF
COUNCILLOR SOMEBODY PRESENT IN
OUR COUNCIL CHAMBERS YOU DON'T
REALLY HEAR ABOUT THE
ASSOCIATION, OR THE GOOD WORK
THAT THEY DO.
BUT ON THE GROUND, LIKE THE
AVERAGE RESIDENT, THEY DON'T
KNOW ABOUT THESE RESUMES AND
REGULATIONS.
FOR THEM IT'S AS SIMPLE AS LET
ME GO TO THE PLAZA.
I KNOW VENDORS, SET UP A TENT I
CAN GO BUY FIREWORKS FOR MY KID
I CAN BUY THOSE AND SET THEM
OFF.
RULES.
THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THEM.

Aleem responds,
THAT'S A BIT UNFAIR.
THE FIREWORKS ASSOCIATION IS
PROUD TO ATTEND THE ASSOCIATION
OF MUNICIPALITIES CONFERENCE,
THE -- WE WORK WITH CITIES
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, INCLUDING
BRAMPTON.
WE WORK WITH FIRE CHIEFS, BYLAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
BUT I WANT TO ADDRESS A COUPLE
OF POINTS THE COUNCILLOR MADE.
HE TALKED ABOUT THE PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATION AND THAT'S A VERY
INTERESTING POINT.
THIS COUNCILLOR OFTEN SAT IN THE
ROOM WHERE THERE WASN'T A BAN.

Gurpartap notes,
I'M A STAFFER AND NOW I AM A
POLITICIAN.
IT'S VERY DIFFERENT THINGS.

Aleem says,
YOU'RE LOOKING AT THINGS
DIFFERENTLY.

Gurpartap adds,
I WOULD SAY, NOBODY PAYS ME TO
LOBBY FOR THIS.
THESE ARE MY RESIDENTS.

Aleem states,
WHAT THEY PAY YOU FOR IS TO
REPRESENT YOUR RESIDENTS.

Gurpartap continues,
THAT'S THE THING THEY'RE
REPRESENTING AN ASSOCIATION
AND SPEAKING FOR FIREWORKS,
YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
WHY WE DON'T WANT FIREWORKS IN
OUR CITY BUT WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT THE QUESTION AND ALEEM
BROUGHT A GOOD POINT ABOUT
DELEGATIONS AND PEOPLE WE'VE
HEARD FROM.
LIKE I'VE TOLD YOU I'VE HEARD
FROM PEOPLE AT THE DOORS.
I'VE HEARD FROM SENIORS.
WE'VE HAD THE SENIORS
ASSOCIATION COME AND DELEGATE
ABOUT THIS.

Aleem replies,
A HUNDRED AND FIFTY PEOPLE.

Gurpartap notes,
THEY REPRESENT OVER FORTY
SENIORS CLUBS ACROSS THE CITY.
SO THAT'S A LOUD VOICE WE
CANNOT IGNORE.
I'VE HEARD FROM PARENTS THAT
HAVE CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES,
THAT HAVE CHILDREN WITH
ACCESSIBILITY NEEDS THAT USED TO
PLAN TO LEAVE THE CITY ON
CERTAIN DAYS WHEN THEY KNEW
THERE WAS GOING TO BE FIREWORKS.
LIKE CANADA DAY, LIKE NEW YEAR'S.
THEY WOULD LEAVE AND, YOU KNOW,
GET A HOTEL SOMEWHERE MORE
REMOTE WHERE THEIR CHILD COULD
BE SAFE.
THEY'RE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THIS
TOO, BECAUSE THEY'RE SEEING A
REDUCTION IN YOUTH FIREWORKS.
PEOPLE THAT ARE PET OWNERS.

Text reads, ?Should Cities Ban Fireworks??.

Nam says,
I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.
BECAUSE FIREWORKS OFTEN
CRITICIZED FOR BEING BAD FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT.
BEFORE WE STARTED TAPING WE
STARTED TALKING ABOUT HOW HEAVY
THE AIR IS.

Gurpartap interrupts,
THE AIR QUALITY.
IF I COULD ADD ON TO THAT AS
WELL.

Nam responds,
LET ME FINISH THE QUESTION.
I ALSO WANT TO GET ALEEM IN.
GIVEN OUR AIR ISSUES WITH FIRE
AND SMOKE IS CELEBRATING WITH
FIREWORKS A GOOD IDEA?

Aleem replies,
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE
FIRST ISSUE.
THIS IS THE NINTH LARGEST CITY
WITH EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND
PEOPLE.
LET'S GET TO SOME NUMBERS.
IN 2022 THERE WERE ELEVEN
HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FOUR
COMPLAINTS AROUND FIREWORKS.
ONLY 10% WERE GIVEN OUT FINES.
IN 2021, SEVEN HUNDRED AND
EIGHTY-FIVE COMPLAINTS AROUND
FIREWORKS.
LET'S TALK NUMBERS.
THERE WERE SIXTEEN THOUSAND
TOTAL COMPLAINTS IN ALL AREAS
IN BRAMPTON IN 2021.

Nam asks,
WHERE ARE THESE NUMBERS
FROM?

Aleem answers,
THESE ARE FROM THE CITY OF
BYLAW ENFORCEMENT.
THESE ARE PUBLIC NUMBERS.
22% OF ALL COMPLAINTS WERE
ATTRIBUTED TO LOUD MUSIC AND
PARTIES.
I REPEAT, 5% WERE FIREWORKS.
DO WE GO AFTER LOUD MUSIC MAYBE
BAN PUNJABI FOLK MUSIC NEXT?
YOU DON'T.

Gurpartap responds,
I SAID LOUD MUSIC IS WHAT YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT.

Aleem states,
YOU CAN'T BAN LOUD MUSIC.

Gurpartap states,
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING
TOWARD RIGHT NOW.
OUR NOISE BYLAWS AS WE SPEAK ARE
BEING AMENDED FOR LOUD NOISE.
WHETHER IT'S COMING FROM, YOU
KNOW, MUSIC AT PARTIES OR FROM
NEIGHBOURHOOD --

Aleem notes, YOU'RE NOT BANNING IT.

Gurpartap replies, WE ARE, SIR.

Aleem asks,
HOW ARE YOU BANNING MUSIC?

Gurpartap continues,
AND FROM LOUD CARS WE'RE
WORKING WITH THE PEEL REGIONAL
POLICE ON THIS ISSUE AND WE'VE
HAD THAT REQUEST FROM THE PEEL
REGIONAL POLICE TO HAVE CERTAIN
MEASURES IN PLACE.

Aleem responds, NOT BANNING.

Gurpartap says, WE ARE.

Aleem replies,
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU'RE BANNING
THEM.

Gurpartap notes,
YOU WEREN'T AT THE COUNCIL
MEETING THIS WEEK.

Aleem asks,
DID THE PEEL POLICE SAID THEY
WANT TO BAN MUSIC OR
FIREWORKS?

[Overlapping discourse]

Nam interjects,
ONE OF THE OTHER CRITICISMS IS
THAT FIREWORKS IMPACT KIDS
THAT YOU MENTIONED.
WILDLIFE, PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED
IN WAR ZONES.
I WAS BORN IN A WAR --

Aleem responds,
LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

Nam states,
I WAS BORN IN A REFUGEE CAMP SO
SOMETIMES WHEN I HEAR
FIREWORKS.
BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT
IMPART OF A BIGGER COMMUNITY
IT'S SOMETHING I LIKE MY MAYBE
MAY NOT LIKE IT.
BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
ENVIRONMENT.

Aleem replies,
LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
THE AVERAGE CONSUMER FIREWORKS
SHOW WE WORKED WITH DR. TOM
SMITH WHO IS A CHEMIST FROM
OXFORD UNIVERSITY TO QUANTIFY
THESE PARAMETERS.
THERE IS A LOT OF HYPERBOLE
AROUND THE ENVIRONMENT.
WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE THE WORK AND
DONE THE NUMBERS.
LET ME SHARE THEM WITH YOU.
AN AVERAGE CONSUMER FIREWORKS
SHOW IS LESS THAN $500.
AND THE CO(2) FOOTPRINTS 0.625
KILOGRAMS OF CO(2).
THE COUNCILLOR IS PART RIGHT,
WHICH IS ABOUT AN HOUR GETTING
HERE FROM BRAMPTON TODAY WAS
NINETEEN KILOGRAMS OF CO(2).
IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
CO(2) EMISSIONS LET'S LOOK AT
THEM REALISTICALLY.
A PROPANE GAS TANK THAT WE'LL
ALL BE USING DURING CANADA DAY
MAKING BURGERS AND ENJOYING OUR
COUNTRY.
2.4 KILOGRAMS PER HOUR.
THERE ARE IMPACTS, OF COURSE
THERE ARE.
BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WE
BRINGING TOGETHER?
THIRTY THOUSAND PEOPLE WILL BE
ON PARLIAMENT HILL THIS WEEK,
CELEBRATING.
AND LOOKING AT FIREWORKS.
AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK
AT THINGS HOLISTICALLY.
I THINK WHEN GOVERNMENT COMES
FORWARD AND SAYS THAT, YOU KNOW,
WE WILL DECIDE AS BRAMPTON HAS
TO BAN, BUT WE WILL HAVE OUR OWN
EVENTS FOR YOU.
WE DON'T TRUST THE PUBLIC.
THERE'S AT LOT OF CULTURAL
APPROPRIATION GOING ON HERE
BECAUSE THIS IS A CITY WITH
HEAVY SOUTH ASIAN POPULATION OF
THE EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND,
HOW MANY PEOPLE CHECKED INTO
HOTEL ROOMS?
THAT'S THE QUESTION FOR THE
COUNCILLOR.

Nam asks,
DO YOU THINK IT'S UNFAIRLY
TARGETING?

Aleem answers, 100%.

Nam says, COUNCILLOR.

Gurpartap responds,
AS SOMEBODY FROM THE COMMUNITY,
I'M FROM THE COMMUNITY.
I WOULD SAY IT IS NOT TARGETING
OUR COMMUNITIES.
BUT JUST TO GO BACK TO THE
NUMBERS THAT ALEEM WAS QUOTING
HERE.
THIS IS LIKE SAYING DOES THIS
MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO OUR
ENVIRONMENT.

Aleem states, THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID.

Gurpartap replies,
WHEN WE SET OFF FIREWORKS,
HAVING THIS DISCUSSION WITH THIS
KIND OF AIR QUALITY, WE ONLY
MAKE IT WORSE.
QUOTING NUMBERS ON HOW MUCH
CO(2) EMISSIONS FROM THIS OR
FROM THAT, THAT'S LIKE WE
SAYING --

Aleem says,
THESE ARE FACTS, COUNCILLOR.

Gurpartap continues,
WE WERE ALWAYS EDUCATED AS
KIDS TURN OFF YOUR LIGHTS WHEN
YOU'RE NOT USING THEM BECAUSE
YOU'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO
COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE.
THIS IS LIKE SAYING THAT'S A
TINY DIFFERENCE AND YOU DON'T
REALLY NEED TO DO IT IF THE BIG
INDUSTRIES ARE CONTINUING TO
POLLUTE THE ENVIRONMENT, IF THE
OIL AND GAS IS CONTINUING TO
CONTRIBUTE TO THE CLIMATE
CRISIS.
AT A PERSONAL LEVEL --

Aleem responds,
COMPLETELY UNFAIR AND NOT TRUE.

Gurpartap replies,
DATA LIKE THAT IS SO --

Aleem states, THESE ARE FACTS.

Gurpartap responds,
I AGREE WITH THE FACTS.

Aleem replies, GOOD.

Nam says,
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S AGREE TO DISAGREE.
WE ONLY HAVE A FEW MORE MINUTES
AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT MAYBE
SOME SOLUTIONS.
SOME ALTERNATIVES.
THE SUMMER SOLSTICE FESTIVAL IN
OTTAWA DID A DRONE LIGHT SHOW
FOR PEOPLE.

An @OttawaSolstice social media page reads ?Summer Solstice. Indigenous Festival. Summer Solstice Festival 2023?.

Nam continues,
WE HAVE A TWEET SHOWING THAT
HERE.
IT SAYS IN CELEBRATION OF
NIPD2023, TWO HUNDRED DRONES
LED THE SKY.
MADAHOKI FARM ON NIPD2023
SHARING AN INTIMATE STORY.
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE
AN ALTERNATIVE TO FIREWORKS?

Gurpartap notes,
MISSISSAUGA IS DOING THE SAME
RIGHT NOW FOR CANADA DAY
CELEBRATIONS.
THEY HAVE A COMPANY -- IT'S A
PRIVATE COMPANY, PRIVATE
BUSINESS THAT'S DOING A DISPLAY
WITH THE L.E.D. DRONES.

Aleem adds,
AND THEY WILL BE HAVING A LOT
OF FIREWORKS SHOWING IN
MISSISSAUGA.
MISSISSAUGA WILL NOT BE --

Nam interrupts,
I CAN ONLY HEAR ONE PERSON AT
AND TIME.

Gurpartap continues,
THIS IS LIKE SAYING THAT WE GET
IT, THERE'S MORE ELECTRIC CARS
COMING IN THE MARKET.
LET'S COMPLETELY BAN CARS THAT
ARE RUNNING ON GAS AND
COMPLETELY GO ELECTRIC.
YOU NEED A TRANSITION.
MISSISSAUGA'S A GREAT EXAMPLE.
IT'S A CITY WHERE THEY'RE HAVING
THESE LIGHT DISPLAYS, PRIVATE
COMPANIES CHOOSING TO DO SO,
MAYBE OUR COUNCIL, MAYBE OUR
CITY WILL REACH OUT TO A COMPANY
LIKE THAT AND SAY HEY WOULD YOU
LIKE TO HOST SOMETHING LIKE THIS
IN BRAMPTON?
IT WILL TAKE A CULTURAL SHIFT.
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
AS KIDS GROW UP AND ARE MORE
ATTRACTED BY THE LIGHT SHOWS
THAT ARE DONE BY THE DRONES, THE
DIFFERENT IMAGERY THAT THEY
SHOWED, VERY CREATIVE.
IF WE START LEANING TOWARD THAT
I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO SAY
THAT EVEN IN THE CITY WON'T HOST
ANY FIREWORKS THEY WILL DO LIGHT
DRONES AND THESE KIND OF
DISPLAYS AS WE START SHIFTING
TOWARD THAT.

Aleem responds,
WE CURRENTLY HAVE DRONES AS
PART OF THE ASSOCIATION, THE
FIREWORKS ASSOCIATION.
THERE IS TIME AND SPACE FOR
THAT.
I THINK THE COUNCILLOR NEEDS TO
REMEMBER THAT BRAMPTON'S ON A
FLIGHT PATH AS WELL.
THERE ARE COMMUNITIES AROUND
THE WORLD THAT DON'T USE
DRONES BECAUSE OF THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE NEW CANADIANS
COMING TO OUR COUNTRY FROM
PLACES LIKE UKRAINE AND RUSSIA
WHERE DRONES ARE ACTIVELY USED
IN WARFARE WHERE RESIDENTS ARE
SAYING THAT THE SOUND OF THE
DRONES IS CREATING AN ISSUE FOR
THEM.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THINGS
HOLISTICALLY.
WE CAN'T SAY WE'RE GOING TO BAN.
IN MISSISSAUGA YOU WILL SEE
THEY'LL TAKE THE OPPOSITE
DIRECTION OF THEIR COUSINS IN
BRAMPTON BECAUSE THEY TRUST THE
PUBLIC.
THEY KNOW THAT REGULATIONS SPEAK
TO HOW PEOPLE SHOULD WORK.
WE'RE COMING OUT OF A PANDEMIC
WHERE THERE WERE SEVERE
RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED FOR MANY
PEOPLE.
AND THE PUBLIC HAS NO TOLERANCE
FOR BEING TOLD WHAT THEY CAN DO
AND WHAT THEY CAN'T.
PARTICULARLY ON LEGAL PRODUCTS.
IT'S NOT THE WAY WE SHOULD
GOVERN OURSELVES AS A SOCIETY IN
THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY THAT
WE'RE ABOUT TO CELEBRATE.

Nam says,
I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
YOU MENTIONED THAT THE DRONES
MIGHT CAUSE SOME PTSD FOR PEOPLE
FROM, LIKE, UKRAINE.
FIREWORKS ALSO HAVE THAT SAME
CRITICISM.

Aleem notes, THEY DO.

Gurpartap says, EXACTLY.

Aleem adds,
THIS IS THE BALANCE THAT WE DON'T
JUST GO AND BAN SOMETHING TO
SAY THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE AN
ISSUE.
WE'RE PROUD TO WORK WITH THE
SPCAS OF THE WORLD TO SAY THAT
WHEN THERE ARE FIREWORKS SHOWS
KEEP YOUR PET INDOORS.
WE DON'T TELL PEOPLE TO CHECK
INTO A HOTEL.
WE DON'T LISTEN TO THAT.
WE FOLLOW THE ADVICE.
AND WE SAY TO KEEP YOUR PETS --
WHEN YOU HEAR A VACUUM CLEANER
OR A LOUD HONDA CIVIC, WE HAVE
FORTY-ONE THOUSAND COMPLAINTS
ON PARKING LAST YEAR IN BRAMPTON
COMPARED TO FIFTEEN HUNDRED
FOR FIREWORKS.
DO WE BAN CARS?

Nam says,
WE ONLY HAVE A FEW MINUTES LEFT.
WOULD YOU CONSIDER TAKING THIS
BAN TO COURT?

Aleem answers,
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE
COUNCILLOR HAS LOOKED AT ME
DURING THE INTERVIEW.

Nam notes,
HE HAS LOOKED AT YOU A FEW
TIMES.

Gurpartap states, I'M LOOKING AT YOU.

Aleem continues,
THIRTY OF US LOOKED AT THE
COUNCIL WHEN WE ATTENDED IN
NOVEMBER.
I REPEAT NOT ONE QUESTION WAS
ASKED IN SUPPORT OF FIREWORKS.
CAN LAWSUITS BE USED?
SURE THEY CAN.
THAT'S GETTING HEAVY HANDED.
I THINK THERE ARE SOLUTIONS
HERE.
I THINK THROUGH OUR BE A GOOD
NEIGHBOUR PROGRAM, THROUGH
INSTRUCTIONS ON FIREWORKS THAT
GIVE Q.R. CODES THAT TELL PEOPLE
HOW TO USE THE PRODUCT
RESPONSIBLY, THAT'S THE
SOLUTION.
YOU KNOW, BANNING THING FROM THE
PUBLIC INHERENTLY ELECTED
OFFICIALS ARE TELLING THE PUBLIC
WE DO NOT TRUST YOU.
AND I WOULD BE WILLING TO HAVE
THIS CONVERSATION WITH YOU AFTER
DIVALI TO SHOW THAT THE BAN
SIMPLY DOES NOT WORK AND THEY'RE
GOING TO FIND THAT OUT VERY
SOON.

Nam says,
COUNCILLOR I WILL LET YOU HAVE
THE LAST WORD.

Gurpartap responds,
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A CHALLENGE.
WE'RE GOING TO COME TO YOUR CITY
AND DO A LOT OF FIREWORKS.
IT DOES SOUND LIKE THAT.
I WOULD KEEP HEARING FROM ALEEM
THAT WE'RE COMING OFF THE
PANDEMIC, COMING OF THE PANDEMIC.
THAT WAS BASED ON RESPIRATORY
ILLNESSES WHEN OUR ENVIRONMENT
IS GETTING TO THIS POSITION, I'M
NOT OKAY WITH SETTING OFF
FIREWORKS IN MY CITY, REDUCING
THE AIR QUALITY.
I'M NOT OKAY WITH GAS CARS AND
THAT'S WHY WE'RE MOVING TO
ELECTRIC VEHICLES WE'RE THE
LARGEST ELECTRIC FLEET WE'RE
ELECTRIFYING AS MANY FACILITIES
AS WE CAN AND MOVING TOWARD
CLIMATE CHANGE AND REACTING TO
THIS NEW REALITY AND PART OF
THAT IS THIS SMALL PIECE.

Nam says,
I WILL GIVE YOU TWENTY SECONDS
ALEEM.

Aleem replies,
I WOULD LOVE TO SAY THERE'S AN
IMPACT OR CORRELATION BETWEEN
THIS.
THERE ISN'T.
QUITE FRANKLY THERE ISN'T.
HERE'S THE REALITY: WE'RE DOING
OUR PART TO PROTECT THE
ENVIRONMENT.
WE'RE LOWING CO(2) EMISSIONS AS
AN INDUSTRY.
THE QUESTION IS, ELECTRIC
FIREWORKS, IS THAT EVEN REAL?
I MEAN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THINGS THAT AREN'T REAL.

Nam says,
WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT
THERE, GENTLEMEN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR AN
EXPLOSIVE CONVERSATION.
WE APPRECIATE THAT.
I FEEL LIKE WE JUST SCRATCHED
THE SIR FAST ON THIS AND
HOPEFULLY WE CAN REVISIT THIS
CONVERSATION AND HAVE A LONGER
DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

Aleem responds, THANK YOU.

Nam adds,
AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

Gurpartap replies,
AND I WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY
CANADA DAY.

Aleem adds, THANK YOU.

Text reads, ?Produced By: Colin Ellis, @ColinEllis81?.