The Cowichan Valley Regional District's Fireworks & Discharge Regulation Bylaw No. 39 includes all the electoral areas of the CVRD (Mill Bay/Malahat, Shawnigan Lake, Cobble Hill, Cowichan Bay, Cowichan Station/Sahtlam/Glenora, Cowichan Lake South/Skutz Falls, Youbou/Meade Creek, Saltair/Gulf Islands, & North Oyster/Diamond), the Town of Ladysmith and the Town of Lake Cowichan.

The stated goals of this bylaw are to "reduce the risk of personal injury, noise, and property damage from fireworks use" and "minimize the impact on livestock and pets." 

Currently, this bylaw prohibits a permit holder from discharging fireworks within 500m of a livestock property (defined as land where livestock is raised, reared or grazes). 

This "buffer" distance is inadequate for horses - an animal with an intense flight instinct that often panics at unexpected sights and sounds. A horse's panicked reaction to fireworks can be catastrophic, with the potential to cause life-altering injuries and/or extensive property damage (Horse Council BC, 2015). Research has shown that around 80 percent of horses exhibit signs of anxiety due to firework displays and there is evidence of cases where fireworks have caused injury and even death (World Horse Welfare). 

This petition asks the CVRD to amend No. 39 as follows: 

Change section 4d) from:
"No person shall discharge fireworks within 500 metres of a livestock property."

To: 
"No person shall discharge fireworks within 2 kilometres of a livestock property."