That the Safety and Facilities Services Committee recommend to City Council:
Whereas Open Air Burning By-law 73-2012, as amended (“By-law 73-2012, as amended”) regulates all open air burning within the City of Oshawa to ensure public safety and environmental protection; and,
Whereas consultations have been made with the Diversity, Equity and Reconciliation Division, specifically the Indigenous Relations Advisor; and,
Whereas Sacred Fires are integral ceremonies to Indigenous culture, serving as a spiritual gathering place for wellness, healing and prayer; and,
Whereas articles in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (U.N.D.R.I.P.) and the Calls to Action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (T.R.C.) Final Report recognize the importance of supporting Indigenous Peoples’ right to access Sacred Fire ceremonies; and,
Whereas the City of Oshawa has made commitments to recognizing U.N.D.R.I.P. and the T.R.C. Calls to Action as the framework for the City’s reconciliation efforts through CNCL22-48; and,
Whereas clarity regarding specific types of fires in By-law 73-2012, as amended, is necessary to prevent misinterpretation by the public and to support enforcement efforts; and,
Whereas the proposed amendments include changes to Section 2 to enhance the definition and regulation of Sacred Fires to provide clear guidance on its meaning and to recognize the cultural and spiritual significance while ensuring proper safety measures; and,
Whereas the proposed amendments to Section 3.2 clarify that Sacred Fires do not require a Fire Permit but must adhere to appropriate safety considerations;
Therefore be it resolved that based on Item SF-25-16 dated March 12, 2025, Council approve a by-law in a final form and content acceptable to the Commissioner, Safety and Facilities Services Department and City Solicitor, to further amend Open Air Burning By-law 73-2012, as amended, to include definitions and regulations for Sacred Fires as generally set out in Attachment 1 of said Item.