Ban on Residential Pesticide Application in Rockwood

Five years ago, the Government of Canadas Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development released a report calling for a ban of cosmetic use of pesticides.

In 2001, the Supreme Court upheld Hudson, Quebec's bylaw restricting pesticide use, stating the community had an obligation to protect the health of its residents, and that communities across Canada had the same right and obligation. Over 70 communities across Canada have passed bylaws restricting pesticide use on private and public property, and dozens of other communities are working on plans to do the same. The province of Quebec has imposed wide restrictions on many of the most commonly used pesticides in an effort to reduce exposure of children and other sensitive species.

We, the undersigned constituents of Guelph/Eramosa Township, hereby petition the Township Council to immediately enact a by-law prohibiting the use of cosmetic pesticides for residential applications.

We believe the immediate need for such a bylaw is warranted, and supported by the following three statements:

1) Health Risks to Humans and Animals

There are known health risks associated with pesticides used in residential applications. Pesticides are either known to play, or are suspected of playing a role in a myriad of diseases and developmental abnormalities, including cancer (brain, breast, stomach, prostate and testicular), childhood leukemia, reduced fertility, damage to the thyroid and pituitary glands, lowered immunity, developmental abnormalities and behavioral problems.

Children are at the greatest risk due to their still developing immune systems. They play lower to the ground, roll in the grass, put their hands in their mouths, and breathe more air per pound than adults.

Veterinarians cite pesticide exposure as the cause of cancers in susceptible dogs and pesticide poisoning was recently given as the cause of well-publicized cat deaths in Toronto. Wildlife, birds and important beneficial insects like bees are all at risk from the pesticides routinely used on lawns and gardens. This is particularly relevant to Guelph-Eramosa Township, considering the large ecological role played by the Rockwood Conservation Area in attracting and retaining disparate species of wildlife.

2) Ground Water contamination

Our communitys drinking water, derived largely from ground-water aquifers, is subject to extensive pesticide exposure through contact with the air, water run-off and precipitation.

A recent Environment Canada study on pesticides in the urban environment clearly illustrates the problem of urban pesticide contamination. In 1998, a team from the Ecosystem Health Division took samples from two streams in Toronto and three storm water holding ponds in Guelph in order to determine the degree of water pollution from pesticides used in the urban environment. On the basis of the study, the researchers reached the following conclusions about heavy urban pesticide use: herbicides (2,4-D, MCPP) and insecticides (diazinon, chlorpyrifos) are often found immediately after periods of rain; similar pollution patterns can be observed in the Toronto, Hamilton and Guelph urban areas and detected quantities of diazinon and chlorpyrifos exceed established water quality objectives.

3) Cosmetics

There is no compelling reason to believe that a lawn should be an artificial carpet. Diversity is a natural part of our ecosystem, and a lawn should be no different. For those who do wish to display a lush, green lawn, plenty of ecologically-safe alternatives abound, using non-polluting, constructive gardening methods.

In Guelph-Eramosa, there are only two companies registered as pesticide applicators, both of whom do pesticide application as one of many service offerings. Thus, a ban on cosmetic, residential pesticide application would have a negligible impact on the local economy.

In Canada, there is a strong belief that people should have the freedom to do what they want to do unless their actions can harm others. Unfortunately, the potential harm of pesticides and herbicides cannot be confined to the users property. Lawn sprays drift in the air, spread onto public sidewalks and Town-owned boulevards, contaminate neighbours soil and leak into the water table.

Beautiful and healthy lawns and gardens are possible without pesticides.