Board favours ban on garden sprays - Bylaw targets pesticides
Click Here to Add CommentSubject: Articles from the Toronto Sun
Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 10:02:17 -0400
From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of
California, Department of Pesticide Regulation
cc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Dear Mr. Helliker, I
thought you might like to read an article dated
The Toronto Board of Health is expected to take another step toward a bylaw today that will prohibit the use of pesticides on private property.
The board is expected to recommend that the medical officer of health report the results of public consultations on the issue to the board and City Council and that reports favouring a ban be forwarded to other city departments.
Board chairman Joe Mihevc said he expects a positive reaction.
"People have to understand the tremendous risk pesticides pose to their health," said Mihevc. "It is the board's duty to shield the public from those risks."
The department's program may include educational programs designed to inform the public of the hazards of insecticide and herbicide use.
Mihevc said the cost of such programs to taxpayers would be minor.
LANDSCAPERS OPPOSED
The board hopes to have a bylaw in place by the end of the year, but not without a few stumbling blocks along the way.
Landscaping and pesticide company members are expected to share their opposition to the board's proposal at the meeting.
But Mihevic said the board will continue to consult the public over the next three months, despite any negative feedback.
He said all opinions are welcome, but public safety comes first.
"We are becoming more aware as Torontonians of the costs of pesticide use," said Mihevc. "It is our social responsibility to protect people and animals from these dangers."
http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoNews/ts.ts-04-08-0042.html
The second article is also
from the
A city plan to ban the use of pesticides in
"I'm struck by the wasting of a beautiful lawn against
the future of our children and to me the decision is kind of a no-brainer,"
said Sharon Hampson, one-third of the popular trio. "There are ways to help
our lawns without endangering the most vulnerable," said Hampson, who
appealed to
Hampson, Lois Liliewstein and Bram Morrison then made a musical plea moments after Dr. Sheila Basrur, the city's medical officer of health, launched a forum to inform the public about the hazards of insecticide and herbicide use.
"Today we are beginning a conversation with
A series of public meetings on the issue begin in May.
Last year, the board of health endorsed a motion to phase out pesticide and herbicide use for cosmetic purposes.
The board was buoyed by a Supreme Court decision to uphold
a
http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoNews/ts.ts-04-09-0045.html
Well Mr. Helliker, is it your social responsibility to protect people and animals from these pesticide dangers or to simply "register" more POISONS and to protect and only promote the POISON "industry"?
Respectfully,
Stephen L. Tvedten
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