Ontario Mayor considers
P E S T I C I C I D E BAN
Will Aurora follow Halifax and Hudson?
Mayor's Report
By Tim Jones
Recently, I've received e-mails requesting a ban of pesticides by the
Town of Aurora.
At the same time I received a communication from Parks and Recreation
Ontario (PRO) to consider establishing municipal policies that would
reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides, especially for cosmetic
purposes in public places.
This is consistent with a Federation of Canadian Municipalities brief on
this subject.
| "31 per cent of Canadian households use pesticides in
their home or garden" |
I visited the www. cbc.ca/consumers/lawn.html web site and gleaned the
following information.
Did you know that 31 per cent of Canadian households use pesticides in
their home or garden and that children, being smaller in size and having
weaker immune systems, are at higher risk if they play in areas that
pesticide residue can enter through their skin?
Municipalities can't control the private use of pesticides but municipal
government does have control over what they chose to use on their own
properties, thus the PRO resolution.
As well there is a Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Environment
reviewing this issue.
It is reported that this committee is leaning towards implementing a
phase out of all pesticides used for residential reasons within the next
five years.
Their report Bill-C388 died on the order table but is expected to be
resurrected.
|
| "children...are at higher risk if they play in areas that pesticide residue can enter through their skin" |
The pesticide industry sells 100 million dollars/year worth of product,
and indicates that when used according to directions, should not pose a
risk.
That may be true, but when used in a public place, instruction on a 10
inch sign in the corner of the park does not guarantee children will not
roll on the grass or play in the park.
Many municipalities have restricted use policies regarding pesticides.
| "...take
yourselves out of risk by considering alternatives to pesticides and
herbicides wherever possible" |
Halifax is aiming at being pesticide free by 2005 and Windsor has
reduced its pesticide use by half.
The PRO position supports the reduction of the use of pesticides,
inferring only specific and highly controlled uses. The Toronto Parks
Department is reducing its use of pesticides by using steam.
I have asked our Parks Department to review their pesticide policies and
report back to Council on our options and associated implications for
the future.
Municipal government must take control and lead the way to eliminate the
risk in this regard, while at the same time, maintain our parks and
facilities in a manner that is acceptable to our public.
I would ask everyone to educate themselves in this area and to take
yourselves out of risk by considering alternatives to pesticides and
herbicides wherever possible.
If you see something in this column that you wish to respond to, I
welcome your comments, either through the paper, to the Town Hall by
mail:
-Box 1000,
Aurora, Ontario L4G 6J1
or e-mail at:
tjones@town.aurora.on.ca
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