Councillors suspend bear bylaw set to begin April 1

As a result of some 'unbearable' pressure from the public, city council voted Wednesday to not enforce a new bylaw outlining when residents can put their garbage out to the curb.

The bylaw was supposed to come into effect April 1, and it meant residents weren't allowed to put their garbage at the curb on collection day until 5 a.m. or after 7 a.m. The fine for breaking the rule was $150.

The bylaw was a result of the surge in the number of black bears coming into residential areas last year in search of food. The province's Bear Wise reporting line received 2,389 complaints last year about human-bear interactions, up from 1,421 in 2014. Greater Sudbury Police received 1,764 bear complaints in 2015, up from 537 in 2014.

A committee was struck last fall to find ways to address the problem, and the new garbage rules was one of the major strategies to come out of that process.

However, as April 1 neared, more and more residents called their councillors to complain that, for reasons ranging from shift work to physical disabilities, they couldn't comply with the rules and still throw their garbage out on collection day.

Mayor Brian Bigger introduced the motion Wednesday, asking that enforcement be delayed to give staff time to come up with more options.

“Not all areas have had bear problems,” Bigger said, while other residents couldn't comply with the rules for various reasons.

Ward 6 Coun. Rene Lapierre said he understood people's concerns, since he used to be a shift worker himself.

“I've received lots and lots of calls,” Lapierre said. “A tweak (in the new bylaw) is required.”

But Ward 8 Coun. Al Sizer said he was disappointed councillors were changing course on a measure that could make a big difference in reducing the number of bears coming into neighbourhoods.

The bear problem last year panicked many residents, tied up considerable police time and forced officers to shoot and kill several of the hungry bruins.

While a failed berry crop was largely to blame for the increase in 2015, Sizer has said that the bears will likely return to the area this year because they found food here last year.

While respecting council's right to suspend enforcement of the bylaw, and the fact the new rules are a hardship for some people, he said it was the best chance to reduce the number of bears in the long run.

“Maybe we won't have the same problems in 2016 -- I hope so,” he said. “But our city had an issue last year, and our residents asked us to do something ... I'm disappointed in the motion.”