Municipal Pesticide Bylaw StatsOpinion Poll Results
News:
June 19, 2009
New Brunswick to ban the cosmetic use of pesticides
The government of New Brunswick is banning the use and sale of 200 over-the-counter lawn-care pesticides starting later this year.
Moncton East Liberal MLA Chris Collins, who has been advocating for a pesticide ban for years stated that:
"I think (the changes) will substantially reduce the amount of tonnage of toxins and distribution of product where children play. I think it really is going to be effective and will make a difference in the health of New Brunswickers"
Gideon Forman, of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, said "Doctors are very pleased New Brunswick is banning the pesticide
2,4-D, a chemical linked to cancer and neurological illness." However, New Brunswick's ban doesn't go far enough. Forman said New Brunswick should follow the lead of Ontario, which bans the use of spot-spraying. Chemicals used in spot-spraying can travel into water and harm people and animals.
For more information, please see CBC News, The Daily Gleaner, the Telegraph-Journal and the Moncton Times & Transcript
.
April 22, 2009
Happy Earth Day - Ontario-wide pesticide ban now law!
CHO celebrates Earth Day, as today marks the commencement of Ontario's province-wide cosmetic pesticide use ban. A lot of hard work and dedication from pro-health individuals and organizations helped make today possible. Congratulations to all!
In other news, New Democrat MP Pat Martin (Winnipeg Centre) just introduced in the House of Commons a Private Members’ Bill C-363, which 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 across Canada. If Bill C-363, is passed, the moratorium would take effect on Earth Day, 2010 and be in place until scientific evidence can prove pesticide use is safe.
“Why should we have to prove that a product is harmful before it is taken off the market? This bill puts the onus on the manufacturers to prove that their product is safe before we’ll allow them to sell it. Until they do, it’s off the shelves.”
Pat Martin, MP Winnipeg Centre
We at CHO couldn't agree more with Pat Martin, and we support his Bill.
April 16, 2009
City of Ottawa offers pesticide-free gardening seminars
Ottawa Public Health is now offering a series of free workshops with information on how to care for lawns and gardens naturally. Come out and get the facts on beautiful lawns and gardens without the use of pesticides. For more information, please click here.
March 23, 2009
Chronology of Federal Pesticide Regulation in Canada
Last year Mr. Pat Martin, MP for Winnipeg Centre, captured the current state of federal pesticide regulation by stating:
“We also believe and are calling for the nationwide ban on the cosmetic, non-essential, non-agricultural use of pesticides. The provinces of Ontario and Quebec have now done it but that is only in the absence of leadership and direction from the federal government that should have done it without having to wait for other jurisdictions to do its regulatory job for it.”
For a chronology of Canada’s Pest Control Products Act and actions towards banning the cosmetic use of pesticides, please click here. Also, click here for a chronology on the actions of Canada’s major retailers concerning pest control products.
March 16, 2009
EPA has been petitioned to cancel all registration of 2,4-D
Beyond Pesticides submitted comments to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in support of a petition to cancel all registrations of 2,4-D. This widely used herbicide is linked to harmful health and environmental effects. To download the comments, please click here.
March 4, 2009
Ontario government passes strong regulations supporting the Cosmetic Pesticide Ban Act
The Coalition for a Healthy Ottawa is pleased with regulations passed by the Ontario government today to support provincial legislation banning the sale and use of cosmetic pesticides. Ontario’s cosmetic pesticides ban takes effect April 22, 2009. Over 250 products will be banned for sale and more than 95 pesticide ingredients will be banned for cosmetic uses (see list here). The Ministry of Environment's press release can be viewed here.
Supporting quotes:
David Suzuki Foundation - “We congratulate the Ontario government for raising the bar on protecting people and the environment from needless pesticide exposure,” says Dr. David Suzuki
Pesticide Free Ontario – “With this legislation, the Ontario Liberal government is showing that it clearly understands the principles of a green economy – that you can protect both health and the environment and create jobs,”
Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario - “The Premier and the Minister of the Environment are to be congratulated for heeding the call of health and environmental organizations. Pesticides are poisonous and children right across the province will be better protected thanks to this announcement”
Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment - “ Ontario is a true leader. There is nothing like this anywhere else on the continent,” says CAPE Executive Director Gideon Forman
Canadian Environmental Law Association – they are “celebrating passage of Ontario 's bold and visionary leadership in banning the use and sale of pesticides for cosmetic purposes”
Canadian Cancer Society - "We congratulate the Ontario government for passing regulations that will provide all Ontarians with strong protection from the health risks associated with the use of cosmetic pesticides..."
2008 Year In Review
Ottawa lags while 15 more municipalities lead with pesticide bylaws in 2008
Case Western Reserve University environmental history professor Ted Steinberg and author of "American Green: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Lawn," said there is "an anti-perfect lawn revolution under way in Canada. "
As of December 31, 2008, there are 152 pesticide by-laws across Canada, with Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton and Vancouver leading the way. Calgary also has a draft pesticide bylaw on the books. There are over 15.4 million Canadians, or 48.9% of Canada's total population (based on the 2006 Census), benefiting from enhanced protection from unwanted exposure to synthetic lawn and garden pesticides. On November 17, 2008, the City of Thunder Bay became municipality #152 to adopt a pesticide by-law in Canada (and #35 in Ontario). The vote at city council was unanimous.
In Ontario the number of municipalities that have adopted private property pesticide bylaws has increased by seven to thirty-five (35) despite the pending province-wide pesticide ban. Meanwhile Ottawa continues to sit in the back of the bus and let others lead. Ottawa's image as a community health prevention leader has totally tanked on this specific issue.
Those from outside of Ottawa seem to agree that Ottawa City Council is certainly not leading the pack on pesticides. Halifax Councillor, Bob Harvey offered the following comment in a CBC interview with Rita Celli on October 27, 2005 about Ottawa's failed attempt to adopt a pesticide by-law:
"Well I was surprised and dismayed by that I didn't realize until today. I'd assume that five years after we went through this debate and discussion that, you know, enlightenment would have spread to the nation's capital."
A headline in The News EMC (Ottawa West) on September 27, 2007 read:
'Suzuki lambastes Ottawa on pesticides. Says mayor 'so ignorant he doesn't know he's ignorant'.
The headline referred to the fact that Ottawa City Council has yet to follow in the footsteps of more than 100 other Canadian municipalities that have banned cosmetic pesticide use and David Suzuki's response, having meet with Mr. O'Brien to discuss this issue, to an audience of over 1000 attending the Canadian Public Health Association annual conference in Ottawa.
Dr. Robin Walker, former Medical Director of Critical Care at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario had this to say about Ottawa's fumbling on pesticides:
"City Council accepted industry propaganda over medical science and once again abrogated their responsibility to protect the health of all the citizens of Ottawa. 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."
Read press release here
The following chart summarizes the rapid increase in the number of municipal pesticide bylaws across Canada (click on chart for full size image):
.jpg)
Community Web.
%20full.jpg)
