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ONTARIO'S COMETIC PESTICIDES BAN ACT - AN UPDATE - By K. Jean Cottam
Written by K.Jean Cottam   
Dated: August 29, 2008

BILL 64: ONTARIO'S COSMETIC PESTICIDES BAN ACT
by K. Jean Cottam

Before the 2008 spring session of the provincial parliament was
prorogued for the summer, Ontario MPPs passed Bill 64 intended to update
the regulations pertaining to cosmetic use of pesticides throughout
Ontario. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment had provided a
questionnaire on its website welcoming comment on the matter by the
general public.

We are told that the Ministry received 6,940 submissions "in response to
the January 18th Environmental Registry posting that outlined the
government's intent to introduce legislation that would ban the
cosmetic use of pesticides." About 90 per cent of comments reviewed
were supportive. (Wed 18 Jun 2008, "New Law Bans Cosmetic Pesticides:
McGuinty Government To Consult On List Of Banned Products And
Ingredients," Canada News-Wire, TORONTO, June 18 /CNW/ - NEWS.)

Apparently, the vast majority of Ontarians were in favour of Bill 64 in
principle, the details of which, including a list of lawn chemicals to
be banned, were to be worked out during the summer. However, it was very
disturbing that virtually all beneficial and sensible amendments
proposed by the NDP Opposition were defeated.

Predictably, the chemical lawn application industry fought the new
legislation tooth and nail, in an attempt to render it harmless. Yet
when the passing of Bill 64 was first made public, the Premier assured
Ontarians that Ontario's good municipal bylaws will remain intact.
Unfortunately, he was eventually "corrected" by Environment Minister
John Gerretsen that this was not the case.

It would seem that the hard work which led to the success in a number of
Ontario's municipalities, such as Toronto, Peterborough and London,
among others, will now be in vain, and we understand that Toronto may
consider a legal challenge to Bill 64 which has the potential to
emasculate all superior Ontario's municipal by-laws.

As reported in the press, based on consultations with the general public
and the stakeholders, the Ontario government was to determine the
following during the summer:

    -   The products to be banned from sale
    -   The ingredients to be banned from use
    -   The rules around exceptions for agriculture, forestry and golf
courses, with conditions.

The province was also to develop rules for other exemptions, including
remedies required to fight the West Nile virus, for example, and other
health or safety issues.

We were told that the ban was intended to replace all existing municipal
pesticide by-laws, "bringing consistency across the province and
protecting Ontarians regardless of where they live. The provincial law,
unlike municipal by-laws, bans the sale of cosmetic pesticides, not just
their use. It also sets out the rules for the transportation, storage
and disposal of pesticides, requirements that municipal by-laws cannot
control."

The ban, which passed by 56 votes to 17, is scheduled to take effect in
the spring of 2009.

But the new law is under attack from municipalities, because--as already
stated--its intent is to supersede superior existing urban by-laws and
may allow the use of chemicals currently banned by large municipalities,
such as the City of Toronto.

As well, the Bill does not prohibit golf courses, farms or managed
forests from spraying pesticides. Forest spraying is a very contentious
issue in Ontario's north. However, golf courses are instructed to reduce
their pesticide use.

Environment Minister John Gerretsen justifies the limitations of the
bill in terms of its intent "to ensure consistency of law and give all
Ontarians equal protection from the potential exposure to cosmetic
pesticides, no matter where they live in the province."

It is noteworthy, however, that the pesticide ban in Quebec does not
prevent municipalities from maintaining the full scope of their
pesticide by-laws, provided they are not inferior to the province-wide
legislation.

In addition, to the above-stated Bill-64 limitations, there was
justified apprehension (see below) that certain pesticides, such as
Roundup, banned by Ontario municipalities, will be exempted from the
province-wide legislation. For example, Markham Councillor Erin Shapero,
whose municipality was among the first to ban pesticides in Ontario, was
concerned that the new provincial law would "water down" the tougher
municipal legislation.

Gideon Forman, of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the
Environment, agreed, saying municipalities should be "allowed to go
further" in the interest of public health.

In a twelve-page report dated August 28, 2008 and titled "Debugging the
Ban: Nine Pesticides Missing from Ontario's Proposed Prohibitions," the
David Suzuki Foundation explains why the list of pesticides to be banned
by the Province is inadequate.

See http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Publications/

These omitted pesticides (includes herbicides, insecticides and
fungicides) are: Abamectin, Acetamiprid, Glufosinate Ammonium,
Glyphosate Acid, Isopropylamine Salt of Glyphosate, Metam, Napropamide,
Spinosad and Thiram. (Glyphosate products are also known as Roundup.)

While the Ontario NDP was supportive of the legislation but felt that it
did not go far enough and amounted to a betrayal of public trust on this
issue, John Tory denounced it "as an example of government's obsession
with more esoteric issues".

Mr. Tory, the unseated leader of the Conservative opposition, appears to
be completely in the industry's corner on this issue, calling the
legislation motivated by 'political science', rather than real science.

Unfortunately, 'real science' is the kind of science which promotes the
self-interest of the chemical industry, whose spokesmen and sympathizers
refer to the impeccable data of independent science as 'junk science'--a
distasteful terminology now used in reference to the issue of cosmetic
pesticides and formerly applied to smoking.

Both opposing politicians and self-interested industry spokesmen are
great champions of Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency
(PMRA), whose recent approval of common yet controversial herbicide
2,4-D is questioned by prominent independent scientists as premature.
Among them is Ottawa biochemist Dr. Meg Sears. (The PMRA employs only
one epidemiologist and over 300 toxicologists.)

Dr. Sears' contribution on the matter was published in The Ottawa
Citizen on July 14, 2008.

She says, "In 2006, I was among researchers and physicians who concluded
in Paediatrics and Child Health that '2,4-D can be persuasively linked
to cancers, neurological impairment and reproductive problems.'
Subsequent peer-reviewed research strengthens this conclusion. The PMRA
decision is premature. Manufacturers have yet to provide important studies.

"Scientific reports of birth defects and neurological harms have not yet
[been] factored [made to work as factors] in the PMRA decision...
Contaminant analyses are also pending. According to Environment Canada,
herbicides like 2,4-D are the largest source of 2,7-DCDD (the
unregulated dioxin that comes with 2,4-D) in our environment. PMRA staff
say that vastly more 2,7-DCDD than regulated dioxins is in 2,4-D.
Importantly, given its high levels, the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances
and Disease Registry found that 2,7-DCDD is 'equipotent' to the most
toxic, regulated dioxin, in tests of immune suppression.

"Immune disruption contributes to many chronic illnesses, including
cancers. The PMRA quietly let slide the 2005 Advisory Panel
recommendation to investigate further child cancer. The immune system
cancer non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (nHL) is strongly linked to 2,4-D. The
PMRA dismissed these scientific studies, and even misinterpreted one as
saying 2,4-D lowered the chance of developing a particular nHL. In fact,
compared to farmers non-using pesticides, applicators of 2,4-D were
three times as likely to develop the cancer.

"The National Cancer Institute of Canada says that North America is a
world leader in nHL. The 2,4-D linked nHL is increasing most rapidly,
and is the most intractable to treat.

"When pesticides are used in neighbourhoods, children's largest exposure
may be from dust. By-laws and provincial legislation for least-toxic
pest control, to eliminate this exposure, are wise public policy."

Commendably, an overwhelming majority of Ottawa's City Council members,
with the exception of some rural councillors, voted in support of the
provincial Bill 64.

 

The provincial government is reassuring Ontarians that Bill 64 will be
applied this spring (2009) as scheduled. The government has added some
pesticides to the lists of banned products, as requested, which can be
viewed on the provincial Environment Ministry's website. The deadline
for public input was December 22, 2008.



UPDATE

This legislation became law on April 22, 2009, the Earth Day. On that day both sales and application of hundreds of chemicals used for cosmetic purposes in Ontario were banned. The exemptions included use of pesticides in agriculture, control of noxious weeds, use of insecticides in forestry and maintenance of golf courses, the latter required to produce annual evidence of pesticide reductions. A detailed description of the banned chemicals divided into various categories may be found on the Ontario Environment Ministry's website: www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/land/pesticides/factsheet-pesticides.php

New, safer lawn care products are being developed. Corn gluten meal
(CGM) is a pre-emergent herbicide (kills seeds in general) and
fertilizer combined. It should be applied in the spring, before weeds
appear. The overseeding of turf treated with CGM should take place at
least six weeks after the application of this biological herbicide. CGM
may also be applied in the summer and fall. Sarritor, a more recently
developed biological herbicide directed against broadleaf weeds, is a
granual application which is built into a program with seasonal
fertilization.
Last Updated ( Jun 06, 2009 at 11:02 AM )
Lang's Links
Written by john lang   
Links By Lang

Links By Lang


"Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards
and in high heels."
Faith Whittlesey

"Gratitude is merely the secret hope of further favors."
Francois de La Rochefoucauld

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
Thomas Edison

"If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?"
Abraham Lincoln

"I have read your book and much like it."
Moses Hadas

"The covers of this book are too far apart."
Ambrose Bierce

"When you hear the phrase 'Canadian values', you know something ugly
and mendacious is beginning -- a speech by Paul Martin, for instance."
Robert Fulford

"A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone
believes he has the biggest piece."
Ludwig Erhart


Downloadable Audio Books
Taking a road trip this summer? Download classic books to your iPod.
Play them through your car radio.
 

When Islam Ruled in Europe
An excellent 11-part documentary on Muslim Spain.


Business
The Stupidest Business Decisions in History.


Free Software

  • "25 Free Downloads You Need Now" from the May 2008 issue of
    Computer Shopper.
  • "101 Fantastic Freebies" from the May 2008 issue of PC World.
  • "The Best Free Software" from the March 2008 issue of PC Magazine.
  • "46 Best-ever Freeware Utilities updated in April by Gizmo's Tech
    Support Alert site.


Get your Walk Score
Looking at a new home? Walk Score shows you a map of what's nearby
and calculates a Walk Score for any property. Buying a house in a walkable
neighborhood is good for your health and good for the environment.


Cirque du Soleil
13 amazing performances.


Mainstream Media (MSM)
The  MSM is dying. Major newspapers are hemorrhaging cash and losing
both readers and advertisers. Even the NY Times, the Grey Lady, has
announced big losses and staff cuts. The Internet has spoiled their
customers, who are no longer willing to let them decide which items
are newsworthy and how we should react to them. A blog dedicated
to this topic is here. Where does this leave us? Say hi to bloggers.


Most Influential Bloggers
A list of the new influencers.


Lectures on the Web
University of California, Berkeley has video lectures online, free,
here. And more from other sources, here.


Confusing Words
100 words almost everyone confuses.


Our Losses in Afghanistan
(letter to the Calgary Sun, July, 2007)

Abandon Toronto
A total of 52 murders occurred in Toronto this year and it's only
July! The victims included innocent women and children. Before
the year is over, the number will undoubtedly pass 66 -- the same
number as Canadian soldiers who have died in Afghanistan. It is
time for Canadians to come to grips with the fact Toronto is a
dangerous quagmire. It's a lost cause, and must be abandoned
immediately. There is no chance for the city to be victorious in
this battle. I am sure Taliban Jack Layton would agree with my
call: "Withdraw from Toronto now before further Canadians are
killed in a war that obviously cannot be won."
 

BBC's Ranking of Naughty Words
Some words are worse than others.


The Day You Were Born
What happened? Did a cock crow thrice, the heavens part? Find
out here.
 

Creationist Museum
Noah solved the dinosaur problem by bringing only dinosaur babies aboard.
T-Rex ate coconuts. No word about where Noah found the kangaroos
though. Answers to questions you might have can be found here.


Diamonds are a Crock
But you knew that, and this too.


Earn While You Rant
How to monetize your blog.


GTD - Getting Things Done
Learn to work with hideous efficiency. Read this.


Globalization
Globalization per se is not what is killing our manufacturing jobs, it's
technological change. Globalization requires us to produce more with fewer
 people. Think it's bad here? The Rand Corporation says that between 1994
and 2004 the Chinese shed 25 million manufacturing jobs, 10 times more
than the U.S. David Brooks tells all.


World's Fastest Cars
What are you waiting for. Buy one of these now.


Six Diseases You Do Not Want
There are more than 6 you don't want, but least of all these.


Men's Health
14 health foods that are NOT healthy.


Top Medical Myths
Regarding health, most of what we believe is wrong, according to this.


Top 5 Mass Transit Systems
While Ottawa decides whether to buy more busses or dig a short tunnel,
have a gander at these.


Economics 101
The Liberals are once again demanding an investigation into gas prices,
but are they really that high? Check this out.


Walking is Worse for the Climate than Driving
I like their reasoning.


An Industrious Clock
It's tiring to watch.


Esquire Magazine Cover Gallery
From 1933 to the present.
 

The 100 Best Films of all Time
In each of 5 categories. according to the Telegraph.


The 101 Most Useful Web Sites
You should have read this one first.


Stanley Kubrick Tribute (video)
He was the greatest.


25 Skills Every Man Should Have
Thanks to Popular Mechanix.


Discover the .edu Underground
Lots of sites filled with splendid knowledge about myriad subjects,
including galleries.
 

Television on the Web
You know all about youtube.com but are you aware of other sites offering
television channels and clips online? Need to see Croatian comedy or
Mongolian soaps? If you don't know where to start looking for web TV,
beelinetv.com and wwitv.com list many of the channels available on the
internet -- thousands, in fact. Broadcast quality will vary depending on the
speed of your broadband connection. Here are some sample sites.

www.joost.com and www.babelgum.com are recent services that promise
to bring a high standard of TV to the internet for free.

www.vodcasts.tv -- some eclectic stuff.

www.brightcove.com -- more random TV clips delivered in bite-size chunks.

www.channelchooser.com -- organised into "channels" by topic, you're sure
to find something here that will interest you.

www.joiningthedots.tv -- web TV site dedicated to the documentary genre.

www.blinkx.com - with 18 million hours of video content in its archives (!),
this well-organised site has something for everyone.

www.horseandcountry.opusstream.net -- horse nuts will love Horse and
Country's online TV station. Includes a behind-the-scenes video of Zara Phillips
training with the British equestrian team.
 
Last Updated ( May 04, 2008 at 02:00 PM )
LINKS BY LANG II by John Lang (Column)
Written by John Lang   
Lang's Links
  Links by Lang

 

  

"English doesn't BORROW from other languages. English follows other languages into dark alleys, beats them up for their words and goes through their pockets for loose grammar." - unknown

"Rock journalism is people who can't write interviewing people who can't talk for people who can't read."  - Frank Zappa

"Love is the delightful interval between meeting a beautiful girl and discovering that she looks like a haddock." - John Barrymore

"If you can find something everyone agrees on, it's wrong." - Mo Udall

"Who loves not women, wine and song remains a fool his whole life long."
- Martin Luther

Lock Picking 101 - you never know where and when you may need to pick a lock. You may just need to get into your house or car, or you may be captured by insurgents in a foreign nation. Whatever the case may be, this is the Beginners Guide To Lock Picking. With practice and time, your skills will improve.

Top 10 Fitness Myths, Busted - many of the 'facts' you know about getting fit are myths.

10 Politically Incorrect Truths About Human Nature - why beautiful people have more daughters, most suicide bombers are Muslim, blondes are more attractive, more...

Hangover Prevention and Remedies - useful sometimes.

101 People Who are Screwing Up Canada - a work in progress. You can help.

How to Select a Running shoe - take care of your feet.

Climate Change Warnings - journalist have been warning us of dire climate change for about 100 years; they just cannot decide whether we will freeze or burn. A brief history of climate scaremongering.

Global Warming is not so Bad - Spiegel, in English

Throw Away Your Cell Phone - 10 reasons why you should.

Are You a Mosquito Magnet? - how not to be.

10 George Carlin Quotes

Best Places to do Stuff - know where to sit in a meeting? in a group photo? in a poker game? And where to be in many more situations.

Passchendaele Photos, in Colour! - never before seen.

101 Greatest Simpson Quotes - "Can't you people take the law into your own hands? I mean, we can't be policing the entire city!". Chief Wiggum

The Best and Worst Reviewed Movies of 2007 -  so far.

Stop Drinking Bottled Water - reasons why.

Starbuck's Short Cappuccino - you want it; they have it but don't put it on the menu.

Cool Body Tricks - if your throat tickles, scratch your ear. And 16 more.

History in a Hurry - video covering 5000 years in 90 seconds.

Penis Myths Debunked

15 Uses for WD40 - get ink out of clothing, shine your golf clubs, more.

Can You Spot a Fake Smile? - take the test.

Cure for Cancer? - U. of Alberta has discovered something cheap and easy, but the drug is not patentable so it might not get to market, according to this.

One Million Free and Legal Music Tracks - available here (legal?)

18,000 Naked Mexicans - in one photo

Disneyland in China - it's sad to see Walt ripped off in such a tacky way.

Beijing's Olympic Frenzy - this one's real.

Top 15 Ways to Extend Your Laptop Battery's Life

10 Divinely Designed Churches

Hack any Elevator to go Straight to Your Floor - time is money, after all.

How to Clean Your Keyboard in the Dishwasher - careful!

 

 
Last Updated ( Aug 17, 2007 at 11:23 AM )
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