Ottawa Eases Swimming Pool Fence Requirements

Having your own backyard pool is great but it can be tragic if a child falls into one.  Ottawa Public Safety Commissioner Ed Whitney is afraid a vote by the city council will lead to this happening more often.

The council amended its swimming pool ordinance, no longer requiring homeowners to put up a four foot tall fence around pools that have at least four feet high rigid walls or an automatic pool cover.  Commissioner Dale Baxter says it’s redundant to have a four foot fence if your pool already has a four feet high rigid wall keeping children out.

Whitney however says the council is jeopardizing a child’s life just to let a homeowner save a few bucks.  He says if someone can afford a pool they can afford to put a fence around it.  Baxter estimated the cost of putting up a pool fence was a couple thousand dollars.

Whitney was the only vote against easing swimming pool fence restrictions.