Ontario to ban pesticides

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Ontario to ban pesticides

_http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/416766_

(http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/416766)

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[PHOTO]

 

CARLOS OSARIO/TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO

" No Pesticide " signs like the one above will soon be unnecessary as the

province intends to ban the use of cosmetic pesticides.

 

 

 

McGuinty to announce province-wide ban on cosmetic use of pesticides

 

(April 21, 2008)

Keith Leslie

THE CANADIAN PRESS

 

Ontario's Liberal government will introduce legislation tomorrow to

implement a provincewide ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides, keeping one of

their

key election promises from last year.

 

Premier Dalton McGuinty promised the pesticide ban during last fall's

election campaign after intensive lobbying from environmental activists and

health

professionals.

 

McGuinty and Environment Minister John Gerretsen will visit a private home

in Toronto tomorrow – Earth Day – to announce the ban on the cosmetic use

of

pesticides on lawns.

 

Gerretsen was reluctant to reveal any details today, but said members of the

public who visited the ministry's website overwhelmingly supported the ban.

 

" We always said it was a priority when we came out with our platform last

year, and it's had tremendous support around the province from what we've

received as far as the environmental registry is concerned, " Gerretsen said.

" Ninety per cent of the people that responded to it responded in a favourable

way. "

 

The provincewide ban is aimed at replacing a patchwork of local pesticide

bylaws, but Ontario farmers will be exempt. There's no word yet if the province

also plans to exempt golf courses from the ban.

 

The Conservatives and New Democrats said today they would likely support the

legislation, but they first want to make sure the ban will actually help the

environment and isn't just a public relations move by the Liberal government.

 

" I think our inclination is to probably support it, but at the same time we

want to hear from the folks who are experts in this area, and whether they

think it's all politics or whether there is going to be some meaningful benefit

to the environment, " said Opposition Leader Bob Runciman.

 

" We've seen a lot of initiatives from this government that don't have a lot

of substance but look good and tend to make headlines, and this is maybe

another one. "

 

NDP environmental critic Peter Tabuns said he wants a ban that includes real

penalties for people who continue to use pesticides for cosmetic purposes.

 

" If they bring forward legislation that has teeth in it, that's useful, then

obviously we're going to be inclined to support it, " Tabuns said. " But we

don't know what they're bringing forward. We don't know if it's going to be

useful or just simply fluff. "

 

The Ontario College of Family Physicians has said the long-term effects of

exposure to pesticides can be devastating, especially to pregnant women and

children, leading to learning disabilities, birth defects and miscarriages.

 

The Canadian Cancer Society, the David Suzuki Foundation, Environmental

Defence and the Ontario Medical Association have all urged Ontario to follow

Quebec's lead and pass the ban on pesticides.

 

 

_http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/416766_

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