Council votes to keep bag ban

The municipality’s ban on single-use shopping bags isn’t going anywhere.

Council voted unanimously last night to keep the ban in place after a survey showed 57 percent of residents in favour of it.

Mayor Melissa Blake says the idea of turfing the ban is out, and now it’s about improving the law.

“It’s a matter of moving forward, looking at some refinements, and revisiting some of the things that have been problematic,” she said. “But I did not hear our representatives saying ‘get rid of it’.”

She says widespread opposition to the ban simply isn’t there.

“I didn’t see that in the survey results – I think that there’s even begrudging acceptance,” she said. “People who are discontent about having a bylaw, I think there’s still a willingness to participate meaningfully in the program.”

Blake admits more can be done to placate businesses, of whom 49% were found to oppose the ban.

“I recognize the very real cost of the loss of impulse buys, shrinking inventory, outright theft – it’s just shameful that it happens – but if there’s ways we can assist in terms of what our bylaw represents, I wouldn’t hesitate.”

Municipal staff will bring back some proposed changes to the law next March.