PESTICIDE BAN LACKS TEETH
Someone claiming to be the Minister of the Environment has responded to an article in the London Free Press regarding the Pesticide Ban in Ontario, Canada. Could this be John Gerretsen himself or someone in a position like Gideon Forman posing as someone else?
June 14th Article Link Here:
Farrah Khan Executive assistant The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) Toronto Letter Here:
Original UncleAdolph Blog on this Story June 13, 2010
HERE ARE SOME KEY COMMENTS:
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Backing pesticide ban
Your article Ontario’s pesticide ban lacks teeth (June 14) may have left your readers with some misconceptions about the enforcement of Ontario’s cosmetic pesticides ban, and did not reflect tremendous success we have already achieved in reducing unnecessary cosmetic pesticides in our environment.
Our first concern is making sure these products are no longer on store shelves or being used on Ontario’s lawns, gardens and playgrounds. In the first year of the ban, 341 inspections of lawn care companies and retailers were conducted and found that approximately 80% were in compliance. In all cases, the Ministry of the Environment follows up to ensure companies make changes to comply with the law. In fact, the ministry has charges before the courts.
In addition, Ontario’s ban goes further than any municipal bylaw ever did by banning not only the use, but also the sale of these products. Making these products no longer available for purchase is one of the strongest ways we can ensure these products are no longer being used in Ontario.
We also respond to all public complaints about pesticides and encourage anyone to contact their local ministry office or our pollution hotline (1-866-MOE-TIPS) if they believe pesticides have been improperly sold or used.
Most important are the results we’re seeing on the ground. A recent ministry study looking at pesticide concentrations in urban streams across Ontario both before and after the ban found concentrations of three pesticides commonly used in lawn care products have decreased by about 80% since the ban. This is an extraordinary success in such a short period.
We brought in the cosmetic pesticides ban because we know the use of pesticides to control weeds and insects for purely cosmetic reasons presents an unnecessary risk to our families – and it’s clearly working. The result is one comprehensive and clear ban for all Ontarians, and we’re proud that is has been recognized as the toughest in Canada.
John Gerretsen
Ontario Minister of the Environment
Toronto
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DDT ban was first mistake
After reading the article Ontario’s pesticide ban lacks teeth (June 14), I had to wonder what the spin doctors would do next. To begin, ask yourself a simple question. If pesticides are toxic and prohibited from residential use, why are these same pesticides safe enough to be used on public golf courses and in agriculture?
The province of Quebec in its arbitration with Dow Agro Sciences has admitted there was no scientific evidence to support the pesticide ban in that province. Yet there are some individuals who will cite a correlation between pesticide exposure and childhood cancers.
But like the correlation between autism and the mumps-measles-rubella vaccine, we know correlation does not imply causation. And sometimes these attempts at what is believed to be good and right for the populace go horribly wrong, as in the case of the ban on DDT.
Since the ban on DDT, over 40 million people in Third World countries have lost their lives due to malaria. Even the World Health Organization has grudgingly admitted DDT should never have been banned.
As a small child growing up my mother used to tell me “be careful what you wish for.” I hope those words don’t come true for Ontario’s pesticide bylaw.
Harvey Easton
Port Stanley
via Letters: June 19 | Comment | London Free Press.
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