Dear editor:

The businesses and citizens of Niagara-on-the-Lake have serious concerned about a draft noise bylaw that would affect their viability and way of life as they know it. The proposed bylaw has three important components:

It would limit noise levels between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. to 55 decibels or less. At best this is restrictive and at worst this is punitive and threatens the very existence of destination businesses in NOTL.

It would restrict live musical instruments or singing after 10 p.m., which is to say, that they would not be allowed.

“Hooting or hollering” would not be permitted after 9 p.m. That means if you’re singing happy birthday to your grandmother in your backyard at 9:05 p.m., by definition, you violated this bylaw.

The businesses that will be affected most by this bylaw are some of the most generous and philanthropic businesses in the world. They’ve helped raise over $500,000 for important causes like the Niagara Community Foundation and the Terry Fox Foundation.  

The online petition I started has nothing to do with the personality of politics but has everything to do with asking politicians in NOTL to do the right thing and oppose the bylaw as it’s proposed.  A better means of policing noise in NOTL would be to have stricter enforcement of existing bylaws.

Joe Pillitteri

NOTL