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Saguenay, Que., mayor considers a Sunday ban on mowing lawns

lawn mower, via Canadian Press

If you don't like listening to your neighbours doing their noisy yard work on your day of rest, you may want to consider moving to Saguenay, Que., where Mayor Jean Tremblay is considering a Sunday ban on lawn mowers.

Tremblay recently proposed the idea of banning the use of lawn mowers through the entire day and, after public consultation, amended the idea to a ban at specific times.

The Journal de Quebec recently reported that a pilot project could be completed this summer, though much of the enthusiasm for the idea appears to have waned. According to the newspaper, the local response has been critical and even a local bishop has opposed the idea, if it was being made for religious reasons.

It is not entirely clear whether Tremblay was seeking the Sunday ban on religious grounds, though he has previously made national headlines for an extensive court battle over the right to recite a prayer before city council meetings.

"The mayor of Saguenay just wanted to ask to the citizen if they want a law to ban the mowing on Sunday," Richard Banford, the mayor's spokesperson, told Yahoo Canada News in an email. "In front a negative response (65% no), he decided to not go on (with) the proposal."

It has been pointed out that other Quebec towns have already banned lawn mowing on Sunday, such as Granby, Saint -Lambert and Outremont. Vancouver has previously considered bans against various forms of noise pollution. In 2004, the western region of the city banned gas-powered leaf blowers entirely.

Toronto passed a bylaw in 2006 to prohibit the sounds of residential construction on Sundays. A catchall noise bylaw also prohibits the creation of noise from powered devices overnight as well as on Sundays and holidays.

It seems Saguenay would not have been entirely on its own should it ban lawn mowing on Sundays. But such ideas are becoming a harder sell every year. People are busy, life is hectic. Sunday is no longer seen as a simple day of rest to many. For some, it's the only day they can get things done.

Errands aren't going to run themselves, leaves aren't going to clear themselves and grass isn't going to cut itself. Sundays would be a whole lot more relaxing if they did.

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