Ontario Mayors called to action
Harris government must give municipalities the right to ban
ED. note - The following advisory comes from the members of CPR-O (Campaign for Pesticide Reduction- Ontario)
I am sure most of you are aware by now that in Ontario a change is
required in legislation (Pesticides Act and Regulation 914) to permit
municipalities to pass by-laws that restrict the use of chemical
pesticides on private property similar to Quebec and Halifax.
| "The MOE and the Harris
government will continue to kneel to the pesticide industry's every
wish unless we stand up and DEMAND A CHANGE" |
Even though the Feds say that" "Municipalities can place restrictions
or bans on use of pesticides that are used for city-owned property,
private residences, commercial or industrial property [1]." (see
section 3.3.
http://64.4.8.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=2e3ecebd7735ff20f74cbcbb03d772d6&lat=984412460&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2eon%2eec%2egc%2eca%2fglimr%2fdata%2fzero%2ddischarge%2fchapter3%2df%2ehtml we
need all Ontario municipalities to pressure the Harris government for
this long overdue amendment. We need to get our Mayors (see motion
below) to write Harris and the MOE demanding this change. A number
of Mayors acted on this last year and received that standard
bureaucratic response. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
Remind your MPP that you expect him to support this change and ask
him/her what are they doing about it. The MOE and the Harris
government will continue to kneel to the pesticide industry's every
wish unless we stand up and DEMAND A CHANGE. The pesticide industry
knows it is much easier to control the Federal & Provincial
governments than all the municipal governments. Municipal government
is more responsive to the wishes of the people and the industry knows
we don't want chemical pesticides in our communities. We have had
enough. It's time to put people before profits. Municipalities
should have the right to restrict pesticides when necessary to
protect the health of it's citizens. LETS DEMAND IT.
| "e-mail all the City Councillors... to
remind them to watch 'Toxic Legacies'. It is a little thing but if
we all do this the impact will be ENORMOUS" |
I feel that the momentum (public opinion) will be on our side,
especially after 'Toxic Legacies' and 'Trade Secrets' have aired
later this month. So lets make sure we keep the heat turned up. For
example, I e-mail all the City Councillors in Ottawa yesterday to
remind them to watch 'Toxic Legacies'. It is a little thing but if
we all do this the impact will be ENORMOUS.
/mac
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City of Nepean
G.P.A.C. Minutes -
March 23, 2000
Page 17
Mr. Hobart suggested that it would be worthwhile for Council to write
to the Provincial Government as they are considering reviewing the
pesticide use issue.
Councillor Farnworth suggested that staff be directed to write a
letter, on behalf of Mayor Pitt, to the Provincial Government
requesting that they delegate authority to municipalities for the
purposes of regulating pesticide use on private property.
Councillor Harder suggested passing a motion which could then be
circulated to Ontario municipalities with a request for support.
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Moved by Councillor Farnworth
WHEREAS Nepean City Council acknowledges that the health risks
associated with chemical pesticide use on private and public land are
of growing concern to the residents of Nepean;
WHEREAS Nepean City Council has passed a moratorium on pesticide use
on public lands, and further supports a moratorium on pesticide use
on private property;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Nepean City Council urges the Government
of Ontario to delegate authority to the municipalities for the
purposes of regulating pesticide use on private property;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT all municipalities in Ontario be
contacted and encouraged to support such an amendment to provincial
legislation. - Carried
-Councillor Sullivan was absent
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In response to a query from Councillor Rywak, Mr. Eric Cooper,
Director of Administrative Services / Deputy City Clerk, advised that
this motion does not have to be passed by Council. He indicated that
a covering letter could indicate that this was a motion passed by
members of Council sitting as the General Policy and Administration
Committee.
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Banning Cosmetic Pesticide Use in the Urban Environment
http://64.4.8.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=9b3d8e83dae6d07e6a4931ba867f5516&lat=984412460&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2egeocities%2ecom%2fVienna%2fStudio%2f1714%2fontariolaw%2ehtml
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