Metro Vancouver Seeking Feds to Ban Large Nitrous Oxide “Whip Cream Charger” Cylinder

In December of last year, the Metro Vancouver Regional District issued a media release noting that large nitrous oxide cylinders being thrown out are dangerous, causing explosions at the regional waste-to-energy facility, damaging equipment, and endangering workers' safety.

People can recycle gas cylinders, such as nitrous oxide cylinders, for free by dropping them off at a Metro Vancouver Recycling and Waste Facility. While the Regional District has seen a sizable increase in people recycling these cylinders since the media release, they are still being thrown in the garbage, and explosions continue.

Post Combustion Nitrous Oxide Cylinders. Select the image to enlarge.

Nitrous oxide cylinders are typically used for whipping cream chargers and are small in size. When used, the cylinder is punctured, which depressurizes the container, removing the risk of explosion when it is recycled or accidentally thrown into the garbage. The nitrous oxide cylinders of concern are larger and are sold in many vape shops in our region and online. They do not have pressure release valves. These larger containers are typically not used for making whipped cream.

The Regional District is seeking to ask the federal government to prohibit the import and sale of large single-use valved nitrous oxide cylinders. The current ad hoc approach by Health Canada to recalling these products appears to be on a retailer-by-retailer basis, which is ineffective. A quick search online shows that there are many vendors able to ship to addresses in our region.

It will be interesting to see what actions, if any, the federal government will take.

Protecting Half of Metro Vancouver’s Land Area, Preserving Natural Spaces

It is a well-established fact that natural spaces in urban areas provide benefits to society, such as food, shade, flood control, and clean air. These natural areas also provide clear benefits to human health. These areas function better when they are linked together. The Metro Vancouver Regional District’s goal is to protect 50% of its land area. About 40% of our regional district’s land is protected currently, focused on the North Shore mountains.

The Regional District has created a Regional Natural Infrastructure Network Opportunity Map to help member municipalities identify areas for future conservation, natural parks, environmentally sensitive areas, or environmental development permit areas of regional significance. These areas could be purchased by the member municipality or acquired as part of development proposals.

The following is the overall map. An interactive version is available on the Metro Vancouver website. Major areas are green, minor areas are yellow, and already protected areas are hashed.

Regional Natural Infrastructure Network Opportunity Map Overview. Select the map to enlarge.

Zooming into Langley City, you can see there are opportunities for major areas for protection along the Langley Bypass by KPU, as well as minor areas such as Newlands Golf Course.

Regional Natural Infrastructure Network Opportunity Map for Langley City. Select the map to enlarge.

The map's data is from July 2025. It is anticipated that the next update will occur in 2028.

Let’s Chat, Langley City! Open House Tonight

Langley City is holding an open house where you can chat with various City departments, committees, and service providers. Do you have a question or concern about emergency planning? Did you want to learn about the Citizens’ Assembly on Community Safety? Did you want to learn about the City’s finances? Did you want to find out how you can volunteer to help your community? You can share your questions, concerns, and learn at the Let’s Chat, Langley City! Open House.

Senior City staff, service providers, and volunteers will be available to assist you. Members of City Council will also be at the open house.

The following City departments, service providers, and committees will be on hand:

• Fire Rescue Service
• Bylaw Enforcement
• Langley RCMP
• Emergency Planning
• Engineering, Parks & Environment
• Development Services
• Recreation, Culture & Community Services
• Social and Community Wellbeing
• Financial Services
• Langley Animal Protection Society
• Langley City Library
• Accessibility Committee
• Arts, Recreation, Culture & Heritage Committee
• Crime Prevention Committee
• Environmental Sustainability Committee

There will also be a kids' zone to help out parents and caregivers. The open house is low-key; you can drop in any time and stay for as little or as long as you like.

Date: March 3, 2026
Time: 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Location: Coast Langley City Hotel & Convention Centre, 20393 Fraser Highway

Proposed Change to Regional Land Use: North 256 Street Industrial Land in Maple Ridge

For some time, I’ve been following proposed regional land-use changes in Metro Vancouver. All Official Community Plans in our region, including land-use, must be consistent with the Regional Growth Strategy. The overall goals of that strategy are to create a compact urban area; support a sustainable economy; protect the environment, address climate change, and respond to natural hazards; and develop complete communities.

The City of Maple Ridge is proposing changes to its Official Community Plan in an area called the North 256 Street Industrial Land, as shown in the following map.

Map of North 256 Street Industrial Land in Maple Ridge. Select the image to enlarge.

Maple Ridge is proposing to convert 277 hectares of regional rural land (about half the size of White Rock) to 198 hectares of regional industrial land and 79 hectares of conservation/recreation land, as shown on the following maps.

Current Regional Land-Use Designation. Select the image to enlarge.

Proposed Regional Land-Use Designation by Maple Ridge. Select the image to enlarge.

Metro Vancouver staff noted that the proposal would increase the supply of much-needed designated industrial land and protect mature forested areas. They also noted that it would create an urban area outside the existing Urban Containment Boundary and would result in the loss of tree canopy. They also noted this is in an area with many natural hazards. Metro Vancouver staff noted that it may increase speculation in converting other rural lands in other parts of the region. Regional staff stated, “On balance, the proposed amendment is supportable, however, it does involve several trade-offs.”

As this is a significant change to the Regional Growth Strategy’s land-use, it will require a two-thirds weighted vote of the Metro Vancouver Regional District board to be approved. If the board decides to move forward with this proposal, there will be an opportunity for feedback, including from member municipalities such as Langley City, before final approval is considered.