Independent and Free Press

Legislation introduced by a local provincial politician to reduce house fire deaths and damage passed another hurdle at Queen’s Park.

And we are keeping our fingers crossed that the legislation will in fact one day become law.
Bill 72, the Municipal Residential Sprinkler Act, written and introduced by Brampton-Springdale MPP Linda Jeffrey, received Second Reading in the Legislature May 29.

We can’t think of another bill based on common sense that has the potential to save countless lives.
The private member’s bill has had its share of challenges. Jeffrey introduced the bill in 2005 calling for an amendment to the Building Act to ensure new homes are built with fire sprinkler systems installed. The bill failed to proceed beyond debate in the legislature.

Determined, the MPP reintroduced a similar proposal last year, but that bill also died when the parliamentary session ended to begin the election campaign.

Then at the beginning of this year, Premier Dalton McGuinty expressed a desire to see Ontario laws making residential sprinklers mandatory in new buildings three stories and higher. We applaud Jeffrey’s determination and we throw our support squarely behind this important piece of legislation.
Sprinkler systems that require installation under bylaws would have to comply with building code standards.

After second reading at the end of May, the proposed bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private bills. It must still pass third reading before it can receive Royal Assent and become law.

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