Leaf blowers, gas tools axed in Oak Bay, B.C.

OAK BAY, B.C. - Gas-powered leaf blowers and other landscaping tools fuelled by gas will soon be banned in the Vancouver Island District of Oak Bay.

Councillors have voted unanimously in favour of a ban on the noisy, fume-producing tools, including chainsaws and lawn mowers.

Users, from homeowners to professional landscaping companies, will have three years to phase out gas-powered items.

Staff must submit a report to council within the next month providing recommendations for a new bylaw and proposals for education and enforcement.

Gas-powered leaf blowers have been banned in parts of Vancouver's West End for more than 20 years and council passed a motion in January to phase out all gas-powered landscaping tools by 2024.

The District of Saanich also flirted with a ban on leaf blowers last year but the motion failed and the issued was referred to committee for further work.