November 10, 2005
Ottawa City Council Fails to Protect Public
Health by Rejecting a Pesticide Bylaw
Ottawa - Health experts are stunned that Ottawa City
Council failed to pass a pesticide bylaw tonight.
Ottawa City Council voted 12 to 9 against a bylaw.
"Doctors are deeply disappointed," says
Gideon Forman, Executive Director of the Canadian
Association of Physicians for the Environment.
"This is a vote against our doctors and nurses,
the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, and the
majority of Ottawa residents."
"City Council accepted industry propaganda over
medical science and once again abrogated their
responsibility to protect the health of all the
citizens of Ottawa," says Dr. Robin Walker,
Medical Director of Critical Care at the Children's
Hospital of Eastern Ontario. "The majority of
our City Council today chose political expediency
over what is right for the community, and put lawns
at the top of their priorities and kids at the
bottom."
"Three years ago, Ottawa City Council promised a
pesticide bylaw if the $300,000 public education
campaign didn't work. I'm shocked that the City of
Ottawa has gone against the trend of other
municipalities that have already passed pesticide
bylaws. It's an embarrassment to the City," says
Mark MacKenzie, President of the Organic Landscape
Alliance. "Pesticides are becoming less and less
necessary as viable organic products and techniques
become better understood and more widely used."
For more information:
Dr. Robin Walker, Medical Director, Critical Care,
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario; (613)
737-7600, ext. 2415 (hospital)
Gideon Forman, Executive Director, Canadian
Association of Physicians for the Environment; (416)
306-2273
Mark MacKenzie, President, Organic Landscape
Alliance; (613) 224-7336
Nov 10, 2005
The November 9, 2005 Pesticide Bylaw Vote --
Who Voted For What
Those who voted in favor of a pesticide bylaw:
The "Yes" Votes Nine (9). The members of
city council spoke eloquently and defended our
children's health to the bitter end: Georges Bedard,
Michel Bellemare, Mayor Bob Chiarelli, Alex Cullen,
Clive Doucet, Peggy Feltmate, Diane Holmes, Peter
Hume, Janet Stavinga.
Those who voted against a pesticide bylaw:
The "No" Votes (12).. Eleven (11) The
following members of city council sold out to
industry interests at the expense of the health of
our children: Rick Chiarelli, Diane Deans, Maria
McRae. Jan Harder, Glenn Brooks, Gord Hunter, Rob
Jellett, Rainer Bloess, Eli El-Chantiry, Shawn Little
and Doug Thompson, (plus Jacques Legendre, who voted
against a watered down "fig-leaf" bylaw
because he felt it was hypocritical to say we are
serious about health protection with a meaningless
bylaw).
Mayor Bob Chiarelli stated that a strong pesticide
by-law will be a part of his election platform and
he'll take on any and all challengers starting in Jan
2006.
Click on Action Alert for further details
Community Web.
