tomoaktree
07-28-2001, 10:11 AM
Thought some of you guys would be interested in this article that was forwarded to me from Cornnell County Extension.
>Subject: [Fwd: Toronto takes steps to ban pesticides within 2 years]
>
>
>MARTIN MITTELSTAEDT
>
>Tuesday, July 17, 2001 - Print Edition, Page A1 The City of Toronto has
>taken its first steps to ban pesticides used on lawns for cosmetic purposes.
>Amid warnings that weeds and grubs will soon get the upper hand, the board
>of health voted yesterday to endorse a bylaw that would end the cosmetic use
>of pesticides on lawns and gardens, likely within two years. City health
>authorities worry that pesticides may cause cancer, particularly among
>children, and want spraying around homes stopped. "We're at the beginning of
>a process where the city is going to look at . . . phasing out pesticides on
>private property," said Joe Mihevc, a city councillor who chairs the board
>of health. Toronto is the first big city trying to phase out pesticides
>since the Supreme Court last month upheld a bylaw by the Quebec community of
>Hudson restricting weed and bug killers. Under Toronto's approach, the
>spraying of lawns by homeowners to kill such weeds as dandelions would not
>be allowed, although there may be exceptions, such as for pesticide use to
>kill allergy-causing plants. The deliberations in Toronto likely will be
>repeated across the country, as communities react to the court ruling.
>Environmental groups are pushing for bylaws restricting pesticides in 11
>other Ontario communities. Those include Ottawa, London and Kitchener, and
>smaller communities such as Stratford and Milton. From the tone of debate in
>Toronto, it's clear that the discussions will be acrimonious. Pesticide
>supporters, worried that a phaseout will cost them their jobs, jeered
>yesterday at a politician who argued for the ban. Some horticulturists
>expressed worry yesterday that the city is trying to take away "tools" that
>keep unwanted plants and insects at bay. "The public is not going to accept
>weeds and grubs," said Tony DiGiovanni, spokesman for Landscape Ontario, a
>horticultural trade association. Yesterday, Mr. Mihevc said the city wants
>to proceed slowly. "We're not looking to ram anything down anyone's throat."
>The city, he said, will try to have "a rational, reasonable" approach. Some
>politicians have expressed concern that the city will appear unkempt, if
>weeds proliferate. John Filion, another councillor, said many residents tell
>him that the city, which has phased out most pesticides in parks, looks
>dowdy. "The weeds are out of control, and I don't take the complaints of the
>residents on that lightly." Mr. Filion accused fellow councillors of
>intolerance with their desire to ban practices they find objectionable. They
>"couldn't care less what the average person out there thinks." For residents
>worried about the health consequences of herbicides and insecticides, ending
>their use can't come fast enough. Douglas Counter, an Etobicoke organic
>gardener whose rare plants have been featured in garden publications,
>yesterday recounted to city politicians his horror when a lawn-care company
>this spring hosed down his yard with pesticides by mistake. "I am outraged,"
>he told city politicians yesterday. He said it will take three years before
>his lot is considered organic again, and he is angry that the spray company
>claims its product is safe. "In fact, the manager said the chemicals are so
>safe he could drink the formula right out of his truck." Mr. DiGiovanni of
>the horticulture association is concerned that some of the 7,000 to 12,000
>people who work among the 1,200 companies licensed in Ontario to spray lawns
>could lose jobs. Cheryl Chour of the Organic Landscape Alliance doesn't
>agree. She said companies in her trade association can't keep up with demand
>from homeowners who hate bug and weed sprays. "Most OLA members are
>experiencing growth upwards of 30 per cent a year for the last several
>years," she said. "Far from putting people out of work, a pesticide
>restriction would encourage the growth of an economically and
>environmentally sustainable industry." The city has been pondering a ban for
>years but didn't act because of uncertainly over whether municipalities have
>the legal right to impose restrictions. The Supreme Court ruling eliminated
>that doubt. "Municipalities have been given the green light. Toronto and
>cities across Canada must commit to restricting the use of pesticides for
>cosmetic purposes," said Rich Whate of the Toronto Environmental Alliance.
>Subject: [Fwd: Toronto takes steps to ban pesticides within 2 years]
>
>
>MARTIN MITTELSTAEDT
>
>Tuesday, July 17, 2001 - Print Edition, Page A1 The City of Toronto has
>taken its first steps to ban pesticides used on lawns for cosmetic purposes.
>Amid warnings that weeds and grubs will soon get the upper hand, the board
>of health voted yesterday to endorse a bylaw that would end the cosmetic use
>of pesticides on lawns and gardens, likely within two years. City health
>authorities worry that pesticides may cause cancer, particularly among
>children, and want spraying around homes stopped. "We're at the beginning of
>a process where the city is going to look at . . . phasing out pesticides on
>private property," said Joe Mihevc, a city councillor who chairs the board
>of health. Toronto is the first big city trying to phase out pesticides
>since the Supreme Court last month upheld a bylaw by the Quebec community of
>Hudson restricting weed and bug killers. Under Toronto's approach, the
>spraying of lawns by homeowners to kill such weeds as dandelions would not
>be allowed, although there may be exceptions, such as for pesticide use to
>kill allergy-causing plants. The deliberations in Toronto likely will be
>repeated across the country, as communities react to the court ruling.
>Environmental groups are pushing for bylaws restricting pesticides in 11
>other Ontario communities. Those include Ottawa, London and Kitchener, and
>smaller communities such as Stratford and Milton. From the tone of debate in
>Toronto, it's clear that the discussions will be acrimonious. Pesticide
>supporters, worried that a phaseout will cost them their jobs, jeered
>yesterday at a politician who argued for the ban. Some horticulturists
>expressed worry yesterday that the city is trying to take away "tools" that
>keep unwanted plants and insects at bay. "The public is not going to accept
>weeds and grubs," said Tony DiGiovanni, spokesman for Landscape Ontario, a
>horticultural trade association. Yesterday, Mr. Mihevc said the city wants
>to proceed slowly. "We're not looking to ram anything down anyone's throat."
>The city, he said, will try to have "a rational, reasonable" approach. Some
>politicians have expressed concern that the city will appear unkempt, if
>weeds proliferate. John Filion, another councillor, said many residents tell
>him that the city, which has phased out most pesticides in parks, looks
>dowdy. "The weeds are out of control, and I don't take the complaints of the
>residents on that lightly." Mr. Filion accused fellow councillors of
>intolerance with their desire to ban practices they find objectionable. They
>"couldn't care less what the average person out there thinks." For residents
>worried about the health consequences of herbicides and insecticides, ending
>their use can't come fast enough. Douglas Counter, an Etobicoke organic
>gardener whose rare plants have been featured in garden publications,
>yesterday recounted to city politicians his horror when a lawn-care company
>this spring hosed down his yard with pesticides by mistake. "I am outraged,"
>he told city politicians yesterday. He said it will take three years before
>his lot is considered organic again, and he is angry that the spray company
>claims its product is safe. "In fact, the manager said the chemicals are so
>safe he could drink the formula right out of his truck." Mr. DiGiovanni of
>the horticulture association is concerned that some of the 7,000 to 12,000
>people who work among the 1,200 companies licensed in Ontario to spray lawns
>could lose jobs. Cheryl Chour of the Organic Landscape Alliance doesn't
>agree. She said companies in her trade association can't keep up with demand
>from homeowners who hate bug and weed sprays. "Most OLA members are
>experiencing growth upwards of 30 per cent a year for the last several
>years," she said. "Far from putting people out of work, a pesticide
>restriction would encourage the growth of an economically and
>environmentally sustainable industry." The city has been pondering a ban for
>years but didn't act because of uncertainly over whether municipalities have
>the legal right to impose restrictions. The Supreme Court ruling eliminated
>that doubt. "Municipalities have been given the green light. Toronto and
>cities across Canada must commit to restricting the use of pesticides for
>cosmetic purposes," said Rich Whate of the Toronto Environmental Alliance.