Check your perfume at the door in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Anyone using town facilities in Niagara-on-the-Lake will be discouraged from using fragrances following the passage of a scent awareness bylaw Monday.

A concern by a resident with environmental sensitivities prompted staff to do some research on the issue, look into what other municipalities in the Region are doing and consult with the town’s solicitor.

“In terms of Human Rights there is also conflict with others wanting to exercise their rights to wear fragrances, wash their clothes in a particular product or (use) deodorants for example,” reported Ann Trudeau, the town’s manager of human resources.

“These are situations the town would have little control over,” she said, but the town could adapt its ordering of cleaning products and require employees to comply with the new policy.

Trudeau reported that if the town were to adopt a scent-free policy, it would be required to use scent-free cleaning products, filter air in the buildings, use odourfree paint, not use carpeting and police the users of the facilities.

“That would place the town in a position of hardship,” she said, adding that it would be very difficult to enforce in the public areas of facilities.

None of the other 11 municipalities in the Niagara Region have adopted policies on this issue and the Region’s public health department advised there is little information available as “it appears to have far-reaching consequences once the process is started,” Trudeau reported.

At committee-of-the-whole last week, Coun. Betty Disero asked for a staff report on a list of all cleaning products used at town buildings and the feasibility of switching to eco-friendly products. Her motion was defeated.

Coun. Martin Mazza, who owns a restaurant, said bleach is commonly used in the food industry.

“Bleach doesn’t smell pretty, but it does the job,” he said. “As long as we can guarantee clean and sanitary, that’s far more important than people’s sense of smell.”

Coun. Maria Bau-Coote pointed out how difficult it is to monitor scents, even in health care environments.

“People that smell overly pretty or unkempt… to try to police scent-free would be very challenging,” she said.

The scent awareness bylaw was passed unanimously without further discussion Monday. Signs regarding the new policy will be posted at all town facilities and on the website. Staff will also look into buying scent-free cleaning products when current products are used up.