Melanie Hennessey of Metroland – Halton Division reports that a bylaw that would make it mandatory for all Halton restaurants to have their health department inspection reports available for the public to see came one step closer to reality this week.
At its meeting Tuesday, the region’s health and social services committee supported directing staff to prepare the bylaw that would make Dinewise –the Halton-wide program where restaurants voluntarily disclose the results of their inspection reports — compulsory.
The document is to be based on a draft bylaw staff previously drew up and circulated for comments from all restaurant owners in Halton. The proposed bylaw would take effect July 1, 2006.
A report from Halton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Bob Nosal explains staff mailed out surveys with the draft bylaw in September to the region’s approximately 900 restaurants. About 140 responded. From that, the region found more than 76 per cent were in favour of the mandatory concept — 83 per cent of the current participants and 72 per cent of non-participants.
These numbers pleased Halton Hills Councillor Clark Somerville, who said he thinks it’s great that the local restaurant and hospitality industry is embracing the idea.
The issue will go before regional council Wednesday.