The Coalition for a Healthy Ottawa

Municipal Pesticide Bylaw Stats

News Archives for 2006 -- (For current year click here)

December 8, 2006

World-famous British scientist financially tied to the Chemical Industry

In a classic case example of bought science, the Guardian newspaper reported today that renowned cancer scientist Sir Richard Doll failed to disclose to authorities that he was paid by the chemical firm Monsanto for 20 years.  Sir Richard Doll's research and comments have often been quoted by industry interests in defence of the alleged safety of 2,4-D (a herbicide which is often used in Weed 'n Feed, PAR III, Killex, Trillion etc). 

In light of the recent revelations, independent scientific and medical experts around the world now question the legitimacy of Doll's comments on the risks posed by phenoxy herbicides.  Doll's work for Monsanto included reviews of the cancer risks of vinyl chloride, dioxin and phenoxy herbicides (2,4-D and 2,4,5-T).

According to Guardian story, Doll was receiving a consultancy fee of $1,500 a day in the mid-1980s from Monsanto.  Sir Richard was also paid a £15,000 fee by the Chemical Manufacturers Association and two other major companies, Dow Chemicals and ICI.  Doll's review was used by the manufacturers' trade association to defend a chemical.  Monsanto recently stated that Sir Richard Doll was also an expert witness for Solutia, a chemical business spun off from Monsanto, as recently as 2000. 

For the Guardian newspaper report, please click here.  

For a study revealing the seriousness of industry bought science, please click here.

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2006 Municipal Candidates' Pesticide Questionnaire

Ottawa Environmental Votes - Councillor Report Card

October 31, 2006

Pesticide Issue Is Deciding Factor For Many Voters

The following four news items of interest speak strongly to the urgent need for Ottawa to adopt a strong pesticide bylaw:

"Residents strongly support a pesticide bylaw -- polling has shown that consistently -- and they'll be demanding their elected representatives take action on this issue.

Passing a pesticides bylaw will also make Ottawa more popular among tourists and convention organizers.  Increasingly, large medical organizations are refusing to meet in cities that ignore public health concerns.

Candidates nervous about supporting legislation that might paint them as too "green" should realize that in other jurisdictions this sort of bylaw was supported by politicians affiliated with all the major parties.

Practically speaking, this means passing a strong pesticide bylaw at the earliest possible date.  The people of Ottawa -- and indeed all Canadians -- demand no less."

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3)  JustOttawa.com, October 29, 2006: Ottawa Elections and Pesticides
      by Jean Cottam.  Excerpts:

"Some Councillors and candidates for Councillors, as well as one candidate for the Office of the Mayor, are shamefully uninformed on this issue.  They claim that if they are elected or re-elected they will do whatever they are told to do by people in their Wards and the citizens of Ottawa as a whole, as applicable.

This is tantamount to a deplorable lack of leadership on their part and an excuse to listen especially to the uninformed and self-interested elements in their Wards.  In the past, some of the candidates accepted substantial donations from industry in general and then fell obligated to satisfy the lobbyists for the lawn care industry in particular who keep insisting that there is insufficient basis for a pesticide ban in the City of Ottawa, despite medical evidence to the contrary.

Our new City Council should rise to the occasion and pass a strong urban pesticide bylaw."

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4)  Alex Munter - Press Release October 30, 2006:
     Don't turn back the clock on children's health:
     Munter challenges Larry O'Brien to get behind pesticide by-law.  Excerpts:  

"Mayoralty candidate Alex Munter today reiterated his commitment to a by-law on the non-essential use of pesticides and challenged Larry O'Brien to get behind it.

Larry O'Brien refuses to accept the evidence-based recommendations of leading health experts like our Medical Officer of Health and the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario," Munter said.  "Does this mean that as Mayor he'll substitute his opinions for the advice of our Medical Officer of Health?"

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For more information on municipal election candidates' stances on a pesticide bylaw, please view the CHO Questionnaire by clicking here

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October 27, 2006

Ottawa's failure to get a pesticide ban "shameful" say Ottawa doctors

Dr. Alex Mackenzie of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) states: "Ottawa is on a shrinking list of cities to not have banned non-essential pesticides use...  I'm really gobsmacked that, in 2006, the furthest outpost of northern Quebec has banned this and, in Ottawa, we're still discussing this.  It's shameful."

Dr. Joe Reisman, chief of pediatrics at CHEO, states: "the reality is, Ottawa's behind on this issue... and I think it's shameful."  Dr. Reisman futher stated that he is concerned about the effects of pesticides on children.

Dr. Scott Findlay, a researcher at the University of Ottawa, said studies conducted there clearly demonstrate that pesticide residue will migrate thousands of kilometres, having "substantial effects on the ecosystem."  Denial from business using pesticides and their supporters in government "infuriates" him.  Dr. Findlay said calls for a definitive causal link between the chemicals and sickness in humans are a call to do nothing since researchers cannot do controlled studies on humans. "If we wait for that scientific tomorrow, it will never come.  (Pesticides) are also a social justice issue. Who bears the costs?"  Pesticides do harm wildlife, he noted, as well as simpler life forms such as soil bacteria; even at levels too low to have been detectable a decade ago.

Source:  The News EMC, "Ottawa pesticide ban failure "shameful" says doctors" by Steve Fouchard, page 12, October 26, 2006.

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October 19, 2006

Canadian Cancer Society to Question Municipal Candidates on Pesticides

Mr. Jeff Froggett of the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) stated today that the CCS's mission is to eradicate cancer and that the CCS are calling for a ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides, having among them known carcinogens.

Mr. Froggett said there is a "disconnect" between the city's of Ottawa's position and a 2005 poll of city residents in which 75 per cent of respondents said they supported a ban.  The Cancer Society is issuing a questionnaire to all candidates running for Ottawa City council, asking if they would support a ban on pesticides used to beautify lawns.  

For the full story, please click here.

Click here to listen to Sue Rosborough, President of the Canadian Cancer Society - Ottawa Unit, interview by Kathleen Petty of CBC Ottawa Morning.   

CHO's Municipal Election Pesticide Questionnaire is posted here.

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October 4, 2006

Ottawa Municipal Election Candidates Questionnaire on Pesticides

CHO has commenced a questionnaire concerning the cosmetic lawn pesticide bylaw stance for each candidate running for the 2006 Ottawa Municipal election.  Our Questionnaire is located here and is being updated as new information becomes available (it's a work in progress).  If you are a candidate and wish to contact us about your stance, please feel free to do.  CHO can be reached at:  healthyottawa at hotmail dot com.

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September 24, 2006

Georgian Bay adopts pesticide bylaw

The lack of adequate protection from unwanted exposure to lawn pesticides at the federal and provincial level has fueled a growing surge in municipal pesticide restrictions designed to enhance the protection of the environment and public health.   Georgian Bay is the latest to join this growing list.  The number of municipal by-laws currently in place across Canada has now increased to 121.  An additional 9 pesticide by-laws are at the draft stage pending adoption.  For a list of the Municipal Pesticide Bylaws in Canada - Population Statistics, click here.

Municipalities of all sizes have passed various forms of pesticide by-laws.  The largest is the City of Toronto with a population of 2.48 million while some are as small as Lac-Saint-Joseph, Québec with a population of 184.

There are over 11.7 million Canadians, or 36.9% of Canada's total population (based on 2001 Census) benefiting from enhanced protection from unwanted exposure to synthetic lawn and garden pesticides.  This figure includes the additional province-wide protection provided under Québec's Pesticide Management Code.

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September 13, 2006

Mayoral candidate Alex Munter says it's time for Ottawa to adopt a pesticide bylaw

Alex Munter, candidate for Mayor of Ottawa, stated today on a radio interview that he believes it's time for Ottawa to adopt a pesticide by-law to regulate the non-essential use of pesticides within the urban area.  To listen to the clip, please click here.

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September 6, 2006

Comox becomes the 120th municipality in Canada to adopt a pesticide bylaw

On September 6th, 2006, the Town of Comox became the 120th municipality in Canada to adopt a pesticide by-law covering private property.  The bylaw sailed through 3rd reading with the support of all six councillors.

Town of Comox, BC
http://comox.ca/

Valley Green
http://www.valleygreen.ca/

Municipal Pesticide Bylaws in Canada - Population Statistics click here. 

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June 27, 2006

Town of Newmarket adopts pesticide bylaw -- 118 municipal bylaws now in Canada

Last night the Town of Newmarket unanimously adopted a pesticide by-law becoming the 118th municipality in Canada and the 14th in Ontario to do so (source). Newmarket town council are to be congratulated for protecting the public and environmental health of their community from unwanted exposure to synthetic lawn and garden pesticides.   For news story, click here.

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June 26, 2006

New Study: Pesticide use poses a 70% increased risk factor for developing Parkinson's disease

A Harvard School of Public Health study finds that people who reported being exposed to pesticides had a 70% higher incidence of contracting Parkinson's disease 10 to 20 years later than those who weren't exposed.  Actor Michael J. Fox's Foundation financed the study.  For further details, please click here.

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June 13, 2006

City of London Ontario passes a pesticide bylaw

CHO commends the City of London for passing a pesticide bylaw with a 13 to 6 vote in favor.  Doctors, scientists and concerned citizens are applauding Council's overwhelming support for a bylaw.  A recent Canadian Cancer Society survey suggested that 74 per cent of Londoners wanted to phase out pesticide use on private property.  Clearly the citizens of London recognized that cosmetic lawn and garden pesticides posed an unacceptable risk.  The bylaw takes effect in September 2008.  "It's the right thing to do," said an elated Councillor Bill Armstrong, who led the push for a bylaw.  News stories are located  here and here.

The London bylaw brings up the total number of municipal pesticide bylaws in Canada to 117. An additional 10 pesticide by-laws are at the draft stage pending adoption.  (source)

It's time for the City of Ottawa to join this growing list of municipalities.

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June 11, 2006

City of Ottawa to spray pesticides on 3 sportsfields

The City intends to apply PAR III pesticide at the following locations and times --weather permitting:

1)  Cumberland Millennium Park field #7 at 2137 Trim Road, on Wednesday,
    June 14, 2006  (Par III herbicide will be used for weed control)

The spraying may be delayed until Thursday, June 15, 2006 due to the weather.  For futher info on the spraying, visit the City's website by clicking here.

Please contact your city councillor to voice your disapproval of the city's decision to spray. Also, please sign our petition.

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June 7, 2006

PMRA's relationship with the pesticide industry questioned

The Globe and Mail's investigative journalist Martin Mittelstaedt reports on the reaction from the PMRA and the pesticide industry involving an internal document concerning the safety of 2,4-D.  The news article can be read by clicking here.

The article states that the PMRA document was prepared in response to a scientific paper written by Canadian researchers, published in the April 2006 edition of "Paediatrics and Child Health."  The study's findings were that herbicides, namely 2,4-D, are persuasively linked to cancer, neurological impairment and reproductive problems. 

Upon learning of the PMRA leak, one of the authors of the scientific paper, Dr. Meg Sears, commented:

This is not the first time that the PMRA has been questioned about leaking information to the pesticide industry.  A previous example occurred in 2005:

See: Hon. Tony Clement (Minister of Health and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario, CPC)'s comments on the PMRA leak, by clicking here.

See: Problems with the PMRA

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May 16, 2006

Parliamentary Vote Results on Pat Martin's Pesticide Motion

Based on the chronic failures of Health Canada's Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), as stated in the House of Commons on May 16, 2006, and based on the outcome of the NDP motion concerning non-essential pesticide use one can only conclude that protecting the health of all Canadians from the unwanted exposure to synthetic lawn toxins, such as the controversial herbicide 2,4-D, is clearly not a priority of the current federal government.  Consequently over 100 municipalities across Canada have wisely resorted to implementing pesticide bylaws, as the Federal Government has failed to protect the health of Canadians.  How did your MP vote?  See the attached file for a detailed breakdown.

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May 16, 2006

Letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Concerned citizens are writing to Prime Minister Stephen Harper that toxic chemicals, such as pesticides, pose unaccpetable risks to their health.  For more information, please click here.

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April 24, 2006

Private Members Bill would create a moratorium on cosmetic pesticide use in Canada

OTTAWA – NDP MP Pat Martin was joined today by Ottawa scientist Meg Sears of the Canadian Coalition for Health and Environment, in calling for Ottawa to ban the non-essential use of pesticides.

Mr. Martin is tabling a Private Members Bill today that would amend the Pest Control Products Act to place a moratorium on the cosmetic use of chemical pesticides in homes, gardens and on recreational facilities such as parks and golf courses. The moratorium would be in place until scientific evidence showing that such use is safe has been presented to Parliament and approved by a parliamentary committee. This proposed moratorium would take effect on Earth Day, 2007.  

 For more information, please click here.

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April 24, 2006

PMRA's  2,4-D assessment does not approach standards for ethics, rigour or transparency in medical research.

A well researched article published today in "Paediactrics & Children's Health" finds:

    The balance of epidemiological research suggests that 2,4-D can be persuasively linked to cancers, neurological impairment and reproductive problems. These may arise from 2,4-D itself, from breakdown products or dioxin contamination, or from a combination of chemicals.
    Regulators rely largely on toxicology, but experiments may not replicate exposures from 2,4-D application to lawns because environmental breakdown products (eg, 2,4-dichlorophenol) may not accumulate and selected herbicides are possibly less contaminated. Dioxins are bioaccumulative chemicals that may cause cancer, harm neurological development, impair reproduction, disrupt the endocrine system and alter immune function. No dioxin analyses were submitted to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, and the principal contaminants of 2,4-D are not among the 17 congeners covered in pesticide regulation. Independent assessment of all dioxins is needed, in tissues and in the environment.  
        Source:  P&CH;  April 2005, Volume 11, Number 4: 229-234

Is it therefore any wonder why a growing list of well over 100 municipalities across Canada and the Province of Quebec have prohibited the use of pesticides such as 2,4-D?  Ottawa needs to join this growing list of municipalites that clearly places peoples' health first before pesticide industry profits.

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April 19, 2006

Number of Pesticide By-laws In Canada Soars to over 100 Municipalities

The lack of adequate protection from unwanted exposure to lawn pesticides at the federal and provincial level has fueled a growing surge in municipal pesticide restrictions designed to enhance the protection of the environment and public health.  The number of municipal by-laws currently in place across Canada has now increased to 113.  An additional 12 pesticide by-laws are at the draft stage pending adoption.

There are over 11 million Canadians, or approximately 35% of Canada's population (based on 2001 Census) benefiting from enhanced protection from unwanted exposure to synthetic lawn and garden pesticides.  This figure also includes the additional province-wide protection provided under Québec’s Pesticide Management Code.  The report can be downloaded by clicking here.

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April 18, 2006

Quebec’s Pesticide Code Just Makes Sense

The Province of Quebec has wisely implemented legislation, the first of its kind in North America, that prohibits many lawn and garden pesticides such as 2,4-D.  The Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (CAP)'s recent press release states:

CAP strongly supports the Minister of the Environment, Quebec, for the Pesticide Code of Quebec. Since the Code’s final implementation last Monday, CAP has received an avalanche of email and calls of congratulations for the impressive health protection Pesticide Code of Quebec. CAP in turn, wishes to pass on these good wishes to the Government of Quebec who should be proud of this landmark legislation, the first in North America and possibly the world!  We sincerely thank the Government of Quebec for upholding and implementing the Code.

We at CHO heartily congratulate CAP and the Provincial Government of Quebec for their hard work and determination to protect the citizens of Quebec from toxic pesticides.  CAP's Press Release can be read by clicking here.

 

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April 8, 2006

Majority of Ontarians support a province-wide ban on urban use of pesticides

A majority of Ontario voters support a province-wide ban on pesticide use in urban communities, as indicated by a poll from SES Research/Osprey Media.  The SES Research/Osprey Media poll found 57 per cent of those polled either strongly or somewhat support bylaws to outlaw the use of pesticides on non-rural residential and commercial property.  The telephone survey of 500 Ontario voters was conducted between March 5 and March 8. It is considered accurate within 4.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.  A detailed breakdown of the poll can be obtained at www.sesresearch.com

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April 3, 2006

Quebec implements Pesticide Code - prohibits 20 active pesticide ingredients

Today the final stage of the Pesticide Code of Quebec has come into effect. This means that 20 pesticide active ingredients, including 2,4-D, are banned for sale and use for lawns across the Province of Quebec. These ingredients are contained in 210 products that will be prohibited for sale and use for lawns all across Quebec. The Pesticide Code can be read here.

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March 29, 2006

Legal information on the right to pass municipal pesticide bylaws

CELA, the Canadian Environmental Law Association has published their research concerning the legal right for Canadian municipalities to pass strong bylaws to protect citizens within their municipalities against the cosmetic use of pesticides. The document can be downloaded by clicking here.

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March 28, 2006

City of London to develop a bylaw phasing out cosmetic pesticide use

London City council voted last night (March 27, 2006) to instruct city staff to develop a bylaw that would phase out the cosmetic use of pesticides by September of 2008. Council voted 16-3 in favour of the phasing out. CHO notes that a strong bylaw, like that chosen by Peterborough, would best protect the health and welfare of the citizens of London.

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City of Sarnia to consider vote on restricting the cosmetic use of lawn pesticides

Sarnia City council voted last night to hold a public meeting in the next 45 days to address the possible implementation of a cosmetic use pesticide bylaw. CHO encourages Sarnia to consider adopting a strong pesticide bylaw like that of the City of Peterborough's, as it values health first and foremost.

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March 27, 2006

Congrats to Brandon; the first city in Manitoba to pass a pesticide bylaw!

The bylaw, which passed unanimously on March 27, 2006, restricts the use of cosmetic pesticides in areas that include parks and the property of schools, hospitals, senior citizens' complexes and daycare centres.

The new rules also allow individuals with health concerns and a doctor's note to establish a 30-metre pesticide-free buffer zone around their property, preventing neighbours from using the chemicals on their properties. Full story: CBC News.

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March 15, 2006

Action: Tell Quebec to keep Pesticide Code

A historic set of regulatory guidelines for limits on pesticide use is set to be implemented on April 3rd 2006. This exceptional model for all communities was protected by Mr. Thomas Mulcair, who was a staunch defender of the Pesticide Code of Quebec and the environment. Two weeks ago he was replaced as the Minister of the Environment by Mr. Claude Bechard. Mr. Bechard was formerly the Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade. Citizens of Quebec are concerned that Minister Bechard may not keep the focus on public health as strong as it currently is for the Pesticide Code.

Take Action Now! Ask Minister Bechard to keep the Pesticide Code intact!

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February 24, 2006

Neurodevelopmental hazards of pesticides

A thorough analysis, conducted by Theo Colborn, examines the neurodevelomental hazards posed by many pesticides. The review can be viewed by clicking here.

Full Reference: Colborn, Theo. "A Case for Revisiting the Safety of Pesticides: A Closer Look at Neurodevelopment." Environmental Health Perspectives, January 26, 2006.

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February 22, 2006

Windsor adopts a bylaw for restricting lawn pesticide usage

The City of Windsor's pesticide bylaw provides for:

• restricting the use of the pesticide to cover no more than 20 per cent of a horticultural space within a 30-day period

• prohibiting the discharging of pesticides when winds exceed 10 km/h or temperatures do no exceed 20 C

• preventing applying pesticides in areas that are 10 metres or less to natural open water or two metres or closer to a neighbouring property

• requiring a warning notice on the area where the chemicals will be discharged

This bylaw's implementation date of April 1 precedes a pending ban of pesticides in the City, expected to go into effect Jan. 1, 2009.

Delegates including members of the CAW Local 200, the Citizens Environment Alliance, the Windsor Cancer Prevention Coalition and the Windsor-Essex County Environment Committee, stated that cosmetic pesticides cause more harm than good and urged city council to ban their use even earlier than 2009.

CHO does not recommend Windsor's pesticide restrictions as a model bylaw for Canadian municipalities to follow. CHO rather recommends the pesticide bylaw adopted by the City of Peterborough, as it places people's health first. Peterborough's bylaw can be viewed here.

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January 18, 2006

Quebec is on the verge of enacting a province-wide ban on dangerous lawn pesticides, commencing April 3, 2006

Residents of Quebec have put out a call for international solidarity, urging concerned people everywhere to communicate to Quebec's ministers to keep the Pesticide Code strong. You can help by sending a message to the government of Quebec by clicking here.

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January 12, 2006

2,4-D Weedkiller Classified as a Developmental Toxicant

California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment classifies 2,4-D as a developmental toxicant.

"2,4-D is far from safe. It can affect women's ability to bear healthy children, and epidemiological studies show strong links between use of 2,4-D products and cancer," noted Dr. Susan Kegley, Senior Scientist at PAN.

Click here for details.

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January 10, 2006

Anti-pesticide bylaw candidate Bob Monette wins Orleans byelection

With a low voter turn out rate of just 24%, Bob Monette has been elected as the Orleans ward councillor. In November 2006, the municipal election will be held, including this ward, so there is potential that Monette will hopefully be replaced by a pro-health, pro-pesticide bylaw candidate.
 

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January 7, 2006

8 candidates compete for Orleans ward councillor position. Who supports a pesticide bylaw?

The Ottawa Citzen newspaper reports that the following candidates:

said they do not support the idea of a bylaw restricting the cosmetic use of pesticides: Mr. Nicolini, Mr.Monette, Mr. Maheu, Ms. Harder, and Ms. Jodoin.

said they would support such a bylaw if they agreed with the details: Ms. MacDonald, Mr. Tardif and Ms. Malloy.

Source: Ottawa Citizen, Jan 7, 2006. By Zev Singer.

 

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