We can all agree that pesticides should be used properly and responsibly, however there are growing concerns across the province that the McGuinty government’s proposed Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act, 2008 – a Bill that would prohibit the use and sale of certain pesticides that may be used for cosmetic purposes – is based more on political science than real science.

If you take a closer look at the government’s proposed legislation, it is clear that it is more about scoring political points rather than truly improving Ontario's environment. For starters, the so-called ban exempts pesticide use in agriculture, golf courses, managed forests and other areas that the Minister deems appropriate. In reality, the exemptions make up more than 90 per cent of total pesticide use in Ontario.

Bascially, the McGuinty government is saying pesticides used on your lawn are hazardous to your health and should be banned but pesticides used on the food we eat are harmless. And if pesticide use is safe for golf courses, why is it not safe for public parks and soccer fields?

Municipalities customarily set their own bylaws regarding property standards, including those controlling the use of pesticides. Some municipalities, such as the City of Toronto, have expressed concerns that the McGuinty proposed ban will water down their own existing pesticide bylaws.

In fact Toronto's Board of Health voted on May 20 to request that Toronto be exempted from provincial ban, should it become Ontario law:

Here in Niagara West-Glanbrook, the proposed ban has also caused alarm because it may threaten municipalities’ and property owners’ abilities to spray for gypsy moths. Currently, there is no mention of gypsy moth spraying under exempted uses and, following discussions with his office, Minister Gerretsen has only said it will be taken under advisement as the Bill moves forward.

Dalton McGuinty's superficial approach is more about grabbing headlines than improving the environment. Substances applied to our lawns, food, parks etc should be subject to strict scientific scrutiny such as the tests done by Health Canada and the World Health Organization. If they don't pass the science, they shouldn't be applied anywhere.

-Tim Hudak, MPP
Niagara West-Glanbrook