On the Air: Aleem Kanji Talks Fireworks Safety and Common-Sense Regulation

Why Bans Don’t Work: CNFA’s Aleem Kanji Talks Fireworks Safety on CKNW Radio

This week, CNFA Chief Advocacy Officer Aleem Kanji joined The Jill Bennett Show on CKNW Radio to talk about fireworks bans, safety, and what really keeps communities protected. As cities across British Columbia tighten local rules, Aleem took to the airwaves to remind listeners that fireworks in Canada are already part of a highly regulated, federally controlled system.

“As it relates to safety, this is a very highly prescriptive and regulated and very legal industry,” Kanji explained on air. “There are over 4,000 fireworks that are tested by our friends in Ottawa—yes, there is a regulatory division called the Explosives Regulatory Division (ERD) within the Government of Canada that tests all of these products before they’re allowed to be sold.”

From the ERD’s oversight to Canada-wide safety standards, Kanji made it clear that the fireworks industry operates under strict federal control—and that those rules work. But in municipalities around Metro Vancouver, where regulations vary from one community to the next, confusion can lead to unintended risks.

“Our view is that it is better to use regulated products that are allowed to be sold coast-to-coast and that are regulated by our federal government safely,” he said. “And this is the whole notion of why bans really don’t work. It fosters and creates an underground, an illegal, and a market that is more unsafe than would otherwise be possible.”

Rather than banning fireworks outright, Kanji told listeners that CNFA supports education, enforcement, and consistent national regulation. When safe, tested fireworks are available through legal channels, communities can celebrate responsibly while avoiding the dangers of black-market products or cross-border purchases.

The radio segment underscored CNFA’s mission: to protect Canada’s long-standing fireworks traditions through safety, science, and sensible policy.

Listen to Aleem Kanji’s full conversation on CKNW Radio’s The Jill Bennett Show: Which neighbourhoods have banned fireworks?

Keep the conversation going. Join CNFA in advocating for clear, consistent fireworks rules that keep celebrations safe and communities connected. Become a member for free and take action!