The rural-urban divide in the recent provincial election could get its first test over the Ontario Fire Marshall's Office and its crusade to make barns safe for parties.
The rural communities where no Liberals were elected are up in arms over orders that will cost barn owners tens of thousands of dollars to get their local fire departments off there backs whenever they decide to hold a neighbourhood party.
The Ontario Fire Marshall's Office has issued an advisory to all fire departments telling them to enforce the Ontario fire prevention code, else their municipality could be held liable in the event of an injury or death.
That means the barns will need fire separations, sprinkler systems and a sprayed-on coating of fire retardant which may contain a carcinogenic chemical.
This is a rural issue that is likely to become more contentious than the long-gun registry.
It seems that common sense is anything but common among snivel servants.
