posted on August 15, 2008

The Star: 1995 ruling tied cities' hands on propane tanks

By: John Spears
Published: August 13, 2008
Source: The Star

Municipalities have no business making rules about the safety of propane facilities because the province already does, Ontario's highest court ruled in 1995.

Toronto officials say the 1995 Court of Appeal ruling prevented the city from doing more to prevent propane explosions like Sunday's devastating blast at Sunrise Propane in Downsview.

After a November 1986 propane explosion levelled a Weston Rd. taxi garage, York passed a bylaw that propane tanks couldn't be placed within 100 feet (30 metres) of a building and limited the size of permissible tanks.

Superior Propane Inc. and the Propane Gas Association, supported by the Ontario government, took York to court.

Read more >>