Decision infuriates supporters of chemical ban
City council has decided not to follow the lead of other Canadian cities that have banned cosmetic pesticides a choice that has infuriated those who have been pushing for a strong pesticide bylaw for more than a decade.
“I’m completely shocked and at a loss” says Ald. Brian Pincott a former Sierra Club activist who describes the decision as “baffling.” In a tight 8-7 vote council rejected setting a timeline to ban the chemicals. Instead it approved weaker guidelines for the bylaw which still has to be written up by city administration and approved by council.
The bylaw would ban granular weed-and-feed products (the province is already banning their sale in Alberta starting in January) but liquid weed-and-feed will still be allowed. Residents who want to spray an entire lawn with chemicals will need to get a free city permit and notify neighbours. Spot spraying without a permit will still be allowed. “It’s really targeting the overuse or the unnecessary use which I think is wise” says city bylaw boss Bill Bruce.
Ald. Linda Fox-Mellway who voted against the ban says the city’s current pest management program is “recognized internationally” and that a ban on cosmetic pesticides isn’t realistic. “To put teeth into something that you’re not going to be enforcing just sets up a whole bunch of expectations and to me is not the way to go” she says.
Voting against the ban were aldermen Gord Lowe Jim Stevenson Ray Jones Joe Connelly John Mar Andre Chabot Ric McIver and Fox-Mellway.
