Actions of Canada’s Major Retailers Concerning Pest Control Products
| Year | Date | Retailer | Comment | 2002 | March 13 | Loblaws | Loblaw Co. Ltd announced yesterday that in response to consumer pressure, it will discontinue sales of chemical weed and insect killers in its 440 garden centres by the spring of 2003. It will carry organic alternatives to its current pest-control products instead. "For cosmetic use, in lawns and gardens where you've got dogs and children running around, when there is a growing abundance of alternative products, this initiative makes so much sense," said Geoff Wilson, a vice-president with the company. Movement within the company began last year after Peter Cantley, the head of lawn and garden supplies, read a story in Saturday Night magazine about Dr. Nicole Bruinsma, a family doctor living in Chelsea, Que., who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. The cancer was a complete surprise: Dr. Bruinsma fell into no risk categories for the disease. Her colleagues affectionately called her a "granola exercise freak" because she lived a healthy lifestyle that served as an example for her patients. She died on Feb. 27, 2002, at the age of 42. (Source: The National Post)
| | 2002 | August 29 | Home Depot | According to Josh Fisher, a seasonal manager at Home Depot Chinook, management at Home Depot stores across Calgary were directed to remove chemical pesticides, particularly those containing carbaryl, from shelves in January. "We've removed all of that," said Fisher. "We've always carried environmentally friendly products. . . . Now we only carry products that are safe for kids and pets to be around." (Source: Calgary Herald)
| 2002 | November 12 | Canadian Tire | “Canadian Tire continues to assess by-laws regarding pesticide use on a community-specific basis because the by-laws tend to vary by municipality in terms of their scope and breadth of products. We also keep our Associate Dealers informed and make them aware of products included in the scope of a by-law in order to assist them with their purchasing decisions. Canadian Tire will continue to monitor the use of pesticides issue with interest, including in the Ottawa market, and will make decisions accordingly.” (Source: Allan Pontello, Category Manager, Lawn & Garden, Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited)
| | 2002 | November 23 | Home Hardware | Michael Morris doesn't understand why the city would get involved in the lawn pesticide issue when Health Canada has already spent millions studying the problem and following through with solutions. "The government has already beaten this to death," said the owner of Morris Home Hardware. "For the city to get involved at this point doesn't make a lot of sense." While Mr. Morris thinks the city should butt out of federal business, he did say he would comply if the city went ahead. And, he'll even participate in discussions with them -- as long as they're "meaningful." "If that's what they want to do, I have no problem with it, but I'm asking, 'Where's the benefit?'" he said, adding the city is taking an emotional, not logical, point of view. "Putting a sticker on a can won't prevent people from screwing up." (The Ottawa Citizen)
| | 2002 | November 23 | Home Hardware | At Capital Home Hardware, owner Chuck Hillock said he thought the city would be better off orchestrating a public awareness campaign than demanding retailers apply stickers to products. "People don't read labels," he said. (The Ottawa Citizen)
| | 2004 | April 13 | Home Hardware | "We are confident that the Government of Ontario and Health Canada do an excellent job regulating pest control products and ensuring their safety and effectiveness. With respect to weed and feed products, you may not know that this combination was originally developed in concert with Agriculture Canada to provide a healthier outcome for turf treated with weed control products." (Source: Ray Gabel, Vice President, Merchandise & Marketing - Hardlines)
| 2006 | July 31 | Canadian Tire | The Canadian Tire in Hawkesbury has also seen a spike in pesticide sales since Quebec banned the sale of a vast array of common garden products. "We are not asking for ID from the customers, but I am sure there are Quebecers," said Stephane Seguin, who handles purchasing for the store. "The increase is 20-25% over last year." (Source: The National Post)
| 2006 | December 1 | Canadian Tire | “Canadian Tire has consulted very closely over the years with municipal officials to comply with local by-laws related to pesticides and to encourage appropriate and sustainable lawn maintenance practices, which focus on reducing the use of chemical products and supporting the growth of organic pesticide treatments. Our support of these local initiatives includes an ongoing commitment to staff training and development and the distribution of in-store pamphlets that outline sustainable and responsible lawn care practices. In addition, organic products are the only pesticides that we advertise in the Canadian Tire weekly flyer. Today, Canadian Tire is the largest retailer of organic pesticide treatments in Canada and we remain committed to offering customers choices in their needs for lawn care and maintenance. “ (Source: Caroline Casselman, Director Community & Public Affairs, Canadian Tire Corporation)
| 2006 | December 20 | RONA | The ban has Maple Ridge Rona store manager Bruce Fairweather checking to see what kind of non-chemical options are out there. He said his store sells between 2,000 and 4,000 bottles of Roundup, Killex, WipeOut or Weed-Out a year. He doesn't see that changing. "I think convenience will rule. If the products are available, people are going to definitely keep buying it." (Source: Maple Ridge News)
| 2007 | January 25 | Home Hardware | Lawn pesticides will no longer be available off the shelf. "They will have to get a certain class of pesticides from an employee of the store who has been trained in dealing with pesticides, and they will give you some advice on how to use it." Jamie Lewis, the manager Charlottetown's Home Hardware, said there will be some costs involved for the store to meet regulations. "We have to look at purchasing some shelving units to help secure the pesticides that are on the controlled substance part of it," he said. (Source: CBC News)
| 2007 | April 27 | Home Hardware | Chuck Hillock, owner of Home Hardware in the Glebe, said his store does sell pesticides and there is a demand for them from his Glebe and Old Ottawa South customers. But, he said, the store does carry eco-friendly alternatives. "We have both of the products, but we can't push anything on a customer," Mr. Hillock said. If a city-wide ban on cosmetic pesticide use was put in place, though, his business wouldn't suffer, as he is prepared to fill in the pesticide void with green alternatives, Mr. Hillock said. (Source: The Ottawa Citizen)
| 2007 | May 7 | RONA | At Rona, for instance, you can find a range of Green Earth products such as Dolomitic Lime, Muskie fish fertilizer, and bone meal. All are "botanically derived or mineral based," said Donato Cerone, Rona's seasonal merchandiser in Montreal. (Source: The Montreal Gazette)
| 2007 | October 6th | Canadian Tire | Canadian Tire spokeswoman Lisa Gibson defends the sale of the products by pointing out that the bylaw contains exemptions. "It does permit their use if a property has a serious infestation," she says. (Source: The Globe and Mail)
| 2008 | April 22 | Canadian Tire | "Canadian Tire understands the need to eliminate the improper use of cosmetic pesticides in Ontario and we welcome the Ontario government's move to ban the sale and use of certain pesticides," says Mike Arnett, president, Canadian Tire Retail. (Source: Canada News Wire)
| 2008 | April 22 | Canadian Tire | “Canadian Tire welcomes the government of Ontario's move to eliminate the improper use of cosmetic pesticides. As the country's largest retailer of lawn and garden products, we’ve listened to our customers and started phasing out these products, while increasing our already dominant assortment of eco-friendly lawn care products. Canadian Tire will continue to provide customers with all of the support and green-alternatives they need as we head into the spring planting and gardening season." (Source:, MOE Background: Mike Arnett, President, Canadian Tire Retail, Support For A Cosmetic Pesticide Ban' http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/news/2008/042201mb3.php )
| 2008 | April 22 | The Home Depot | The Home Depot® today announced that it will voluntarily stop selling traditional pesticides and herbicides in its stores across Canada by the end of 2008 and will increase its selection of environmentally friendly alternatives. The Home Depot is the first home improvement retailer to stop selling pesticides voluntarily across Canada and will phase out the products long before legislated deadlines. “Like our customers, we, at The Home Depot, are concerned about the environment,” said Annette Verschuren, president of The Home Depot Canada and Asia. “We are going above and beyond government regulations by working with our suppliers to develop pesticide alternatives that are environmentally friendly and produce excellent results on lawns and gardens.” (Source: Home Depot Canada Media Release)
| 2008 | April 22 | Wal-Mart Canada | "Wal-Mart Canada is pleased that the McGuinty Government is creating a consistent set of rules to govern the sale and use of cosmetic pesticides in Ontario. We have already increased the number of eco-friendly options in our Garden Centres, and have provided valuable material to educate our associates and customers about chemical alternatives. It is our intention to have cosmetic pesticides off our shelves before the end of 2008." Sylvain Prudhomme, Senior Vice-President Merchandising, Wal-Mart Canada. (Source: MOE Background: http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/news/2008/042201mb3.php )
| 2008 | April 23 | The Home Depot | The Home Depot yanked pesticides from four of its Ontario stores yesterday and all 166 Canadian stores will follow suit by the end of the year. "We could see more and more municipal bans that were being drafted," said Home Depot director of communications Pat Chapman. But as a national company Home Depot decided to go "above and beyond just the municipal level and the provincial level." (Source: The Ottawa Citizen)
| 2008 | April 23 | Canadian Tire | Canadian Tire spokeswoman Lisa Gibson said she wouldn't rule out a national policy change, but that the company would continue to focus on Ontario for the time being. She added the company has been stocking fewer pesticides and replacing them with environmentally friendly alternatives. (Source: The Ottawa Citizen)
| 2008 | April 25 | Home Hardware | The stream of customers seeking their pesticide fix hasn't stopped, said Jean-Francois Bertrand, owner of the Home Hardware in Hawkesbury, Ont., about 100 kilometers west of Montreal. "We see people with baskets full of [pesticide] products," he said, predicting there "might be some stockpiling" on the Ontario side, too. (Source: The Globe and Mail)
| 2008 | June 29 | The Home Depot | But many homeowners and gardeners are choosing more environmentally conscious paths, so some stores aren't worried about a potential drop in pesticide sales. "As soon as I get them in, they're gone," Home Depot staffer Rodney Hodgins said of the store's weed-picking tools. "So we know that it's not going to affect business very much." (Source: CBC News)
| 2008 | September 10 | RONA | RONA inc. (TSX: RON), the largest Canadian retailer and distributor of hardware, renovation and gardening products, is announcing it will stop selling synthetic pesticides for cosmetic use in all its stores across Canada beginning July 1, 2009. “At RONA, we want to work with consumers and help them adopt practices that are less harmful to the environment as well as healthier for them. Consumers generally want to adopt environmentally friendly practices, but they often lack the information and alternative solutions to do so,” said Normand Dumont, RONA’s Executive Vice President of Merchandising. “By stopping to sell synthetic pesticides for cosmetic use and introducing alternative solutions, we’re encouraging responsible consumption.” (Source: RONA Media Release)
| 2008 | October 29 | The Home Depot | The Home Depot, began a voluntary phase-out on the sale of lawn and garden pesticides in April. Tiziana Baccega, a Home Depot national spokeswoman, said the home improvement giant has not noticed a spike in pesticide sales in anticipation of the Ontario ban. "We did, however, notice an increased interest in our ECO Options products," she said in an interview. Customers are requesting more environmentally friendly weed killers, she said, as so-called green initiatives gain in popularity. (Source: Owen Sound Sun Times)
| 2009 | January 6 | Canadian Tire | “Canadian Tire has actively supported the Ministry of the Environment’s (MOE) decision to ban the use of cosmetic pesticides in the province of Ontario. As a result, we removed the proposed banned products from our shelves in the fall of 2008.” (Source: Caroline Casselman, Associate Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility & Public Affairs, Canadian Tire Corporation)
| 2009 | January 9 | Canadian Tire | “At this time, Canadian Tire has not restricted customer access to these products in other provinces. Across Canada we have, however, substantially reduced the amount and types of synthetic products we sell while increasing our natural assortment. We also continue to emphasize our Healthy Lawns campaign, which educates customers on the benefits of achieving and maintaining a healthy lawn without the use of pesticides.” (Source: Caroline Casselman, Associate Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility & Public Affairs, Canadian Tire Corporation)
| 2009 | March 7 | Home Hardware | Lonnie Doherty, manager of Walden Home Hardware, says he has no problem with the ban itself. It's the way the province is implementing the new rules that's causing him problems. (Source: The Sudbury Star)
| 2009 | March 17 | Home Hardware | “From what I hear, a lot of people are going to use it after April 22,” said Larry Seguin, owner of the Tecumseh Home Hardware Building Centre. “On the weekend, I had a guy come in who bought $400 worth — enough for three to four years,” said Seguin. “People have nice lawns and they want to keep them nice,” he added. While a growing number of larger retailers no longer carry them, Seguin said his store will be selling the soon-to-be-outlawed products, such as Roundup and Killex, right up to the legal deadline. (Source: The Windsor Star)
| 2009 | March 18 | Canadian Tire | Canadian Tire owner Brett Lavier said all the banned pesticides have already been pulled from the store’s shelves. Anything that was pulled was shipped back to the corporate warehouse to be redistributed to Canadian Tire stores in other provinces where there is no ban. (Source: Tillsonburg News)
| 2009 | March 27 | Canadian Tire | Not everyone is taking the ban in stride. Joanne Taranto, a garden sales clerk at Canadian Tire, is blunt about her customers: "They're upset about it, every customer who I talked to so far that didn't know about it. It's not going to be available and they're upset. But there's nothing they can do." (Source: The Sault Star)
| | 2009 | April 15 | Home Hardware | Paul Andratis, owner of Caffery Home Hardware on Main Street, had few comments about the ban. Andratis was irked that the finalized list of banned products was released in early March. “We don’t get money back on these products,” he said. “We weren’t even told until March 5. That’s ridiculous.” (Source: Delhi News-Record)
| | 2009 | April 15 | Canadian Tire | At Delhi Canadian Tire on Church Street, pesticides have been hard to find since Sept. 2008. “Most of the pesticides that were going to be banned we pulled last fall,” said Delhi Canadian Tire manager, Michel Proulx. “As soon as they said they would be pulled, corporate jumped in and took it all off the shelves.” Instead of disposing of the extra product, Proulx said it was shipped to provinces that are not under the Pesticide Act. (Source: Delhi News-Record)
| | 2009 | April 17 | Home Hardware | “The pesticide ban has reinforced the green side of things in terms of reducing the amount of pesticides that are getting into the water system,” he says. “Buying fertilizers without pesticides would certainly be the top-of-mind thing that comes to mind at this time of year,” Hupe says. “For most people, if they seed their lawn every year the weeds really don’t have a chance to grow through anyway.” (Source: Gerry Hupe, manager of Home Hardware in Navan, The East Ottawa Star)
| | 2009 | September 4 | Home Hardware | Jason Decker, store manager of the Fort McMurray Home Hardware said Home Hardware, from a corporate standpoint, began preparing for the ban months ago. Decker himself knew of the ban back in the spring. “We proceeded with our purchasing with some cautions but at the same time, I got talking to some other Home Hardware dealers, and a lot of them were gambling and going heavy because they felt that people (would be) stocking.” (Source:
Fort McMurray Today) |
For a chronology of Canada’s Pest Control Products Act & actions towards banning the cosmetic use of pesticides, please click here.
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