November 3, 2003
Press Release
Many
of Ottawa's Municipal Election Candidates Support a
Pesticide-free By-law
More than 20 municipal election
candidates say that they will support a
pesticide-free bylaw if they are elected on November
10, 2003 - with half of them wanting a bylaw as soon
as 2004. The candidates have acknowledged warnings
from concerned citizens, doctors, and scientists that
exposure to lawn and garden pesticides - both
herbicides and insecticides - can trigger serious and
potentially life-threatening health conditions. [questionnaire
results online]
Forty-seven out of 69 municipal
candidates responded to a questionnaire from the
Coalition for a Healthy Ottawa (CHO), which asked the
candidates if they supported a bylaw eliminating the
cosmetic use of pesticides on all public and private
properties, with exemptions for farming and for the
protection of public health. CHO also asked the
candidates when the bylaw should be enacted.
"We are facing increasing
numbers of some childhood cancers, and other
conditions including type-one diabetes, autism, and
childhood asthma," says Dr. Alex MacKenzie, CHO
Co-Chair; Paediatrician and Director of the
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario's Research
Institute; and the Vice-President of Research Genome
Canada. "The support for a pesticide-free bylaw
among many of the election candidates is
encouraging," adds Dr. Mackenzie.
"Some pesticides cause
birth defects or cancer after chronic exposure,"
agrees Dr. Richard Van der Jagt, Haematologist, and
Chair of the Canadian Leukemia Studies Group.
"Pesticides applied to lawns and gardens
contaminate the air, soil and water. Studies show
that pesticides affect the hormone, central nervous,
and immune systems."
The City of Ottawa's current
pesticide reduction strategy lacks a pesticide-free
by-law to protect children, pregnant women, the
elderly, and individuals with chronic illnesses and
compromised immune systems.
"People with allergies,
asthma, and chemical sensitivities are
suffering," says Barbara Leimsner, President,
Ottawa Allergy and Environmental Health Association.
"Some current members of Ottawa City Council
have placed industry interests ahead of the health of
Ottawa citizens. A large majority of Ottawa residents
do not use pesticides," adds Leimsner.
"Election candidates must respond to the
public's demand for a healthier, safer and cleaner
environment."
The Nation's Capital is behind
40 other Canadian municipalities, including Halifax
and Toronto, that have already adopted pesticide-free
bylaws to protect public health. This year, the
Province of Québec adopted the highest standards in
North America to decrease exposure to pesticides. The
Québec government will prohibit the sale and
application of many of the most toxic pesticides as
of 2006.
The Coalition for a Healthy
Ottawa represents a network of health care
professionals, health agencies, community
organizations, and more than 6,500 individuals
working to restrict the unwanted use of toxic
pesticides in Ottawa.
For more information, contact:
Coalition For a Healthy Ottawa
Email: healthyottawa at hotmail dot com
Community Web.