Toronto City Council Restricts Pesticide Use!

May 23, 2003

Toronto - City Council adopted a by-law to restrict the use of lawn pesticides. The by-law, which comes into effect next April, passed by a wide margin of 26 to 16. The first year of the by-law will focus on public education. Enforcement will begin in September 2005.

"This is a huge victory and proves that people who are concerned about the health of their children can take on the chemical industry and win", says Janet May, spokesperson for Pesticide Free Ontario. "The chemical industry paid lobbyists to pressure councillors, placed ads in newspapers and on the radio and contracted a telemarketing firm to encourage customers of chemical lawn care companies to call councillors to oppose the by-law."

An 11 person advisory committee will be formed to define "infestations". Under the by-law pesticide use will be permitted for infestations, indoor use, swimming pools and for health hazards. The by-law also includes a list of permitted pesticides, which are products generally considered to be safe.

"I'm sure that Toronto's by-law will set an example for municipalities throughout Canada", says Sari Merson of the York Region Environmental Alliance, a member group of Pesticide Free Ontario. "The support of Canada's largest city for public health and the environment will have a snowball effect on other municipalities."

To date, over 50 municipalities have passed pesticide by-laws in Canada.