This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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Today, Mississauga City Council passed a by-law that will ban teens (under 18) from using indoor tanning equipment. The by-law is the result of a motion moved on May 23, 2012 by Ward 5 City Councillor, Bonnie Crombie and follows closely on the heels of the Region of Peel’s recent by-law banning underage tanning, which passed on September 27, 2012.
“I am ecstatic that Mississauga has proceeded with this by-law,” said Crombie. “Skin cancer and melanoma are very serious cancers that predominantly affect young people. We have an opportunity to save lives with this by-law, as well as the one passed by the Region of Peel. If the provincial government won’t take action on this, I believe it is incumbent upon municipalities to do so. I am happy to lead the charge on this issue and encourage other municipalities and the province of Ontario to follow suit as soon as possible.”
The by-law passed today by Mississauga City Council will amend the City’s Business Licence By-Law to include a section that will allow the City’s By-Law Enforcement to regulate tanning facilities in Mississauga. The by-law will also require operators of tanning equipment to register as a “tanning facility” and pay a small fee each year as part of their business licence. It will come into effect in January 2013.
To date, the Town of Oakville, the Region of Peel and the City of Mississauga are the only municipalities in Ontario to pass by-laws to ban teens from tanning. As a result of the prorogation of the Ontario Legislature, Bill 74, Skin Care Prevention Act, 2012 will no longer be considered and will have to be reintroduced in the next parliamentary session.
Mississauga was one of the first municipalities in Ontario to move ahead on the issue of banning minors from tanning. Councillor Crombie moved a motion at Mississauga City Council on May 23, 2012 and another at Peel Regional Council on May 24, 2012. Both motions directed staff at the City and Regional level to study the feasibility of by-laws to ban teens from tanning. On September 27, 2012, the Council of the Region of Peel passed the province’s strictest by-law to prevent teens from tanning. The report presented by Dr. David Mowat, the Medical officer of Health for Peel Region, called on all municipalities to pass their own by-laws to address this issue of significant public concern.
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