Ottawa Eases Swimming Pool Fence Requirements
Posted by wlpo on August 7, 2012
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.
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