If Ontario municipalities want mandatory helmets for tobogganers, they are going to have to do it themselves, a McGuinty government spokesman said yesterday.
The provincial government has no plans to introduce legislation on the issue, said Neal Kelly, director of communications at the office of the Minister of Transportation.
"In terms of helmets on kids on hills, while they're on their toboggans, it's not something the government is considering," Mr. Kelly said.
Vaughan Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco said yesterday she confirmed the city can pass mandatory helmet bylaws within her municipality, and she wants to "lead by example" and pass what is believed to be the only bylaw in Canada mandating helmets for tobogganers.
"If our municipality starts and if we get other municipalities on board, then if we get enough municipalities, maybe then we can send a resolution over to the province," she said.
Seven people have died sledding in Canada in the past four years, including two children this month. An eight-year-old girl from St-Michel-Des-Saints near Montreal died on Sunday after hitting a tree. A 12-year-old boy from Gilbert Plains, Man., was killed on Jan. 7 when he hit his head on a patch of ice while tobogganing.
One Ottawa city councillor is worried that municipal bylaws would not be effective enough and said the federal government should be doing more.
"Instead of having it be piecemeal and different everywhere, it should be mandatory across the nation," Eli El-Chantiry said. "If you can save one child from brain damage or a broken neck, I think it would be worth the effort."
