OSOYOOS TIMES-March 9, 2011
By Paul Everest – Osoyoos Times
Town of Osoyoos staff will prepare a report for council on the kinds of materials currently being used for turf growth and weed and insect control on public lands and parks within the community.
At its March 7 meeting, Osoyoos council directed staff to begin preparing the report that will include the names and types of such materials and how often these materials are used.
The directive was put forward by Coun. Michael Ryan and he said he hopes the report could lead to a ban of cosmetic pesticides and herbicides in the community.
Part of the reason council asked staff to prepare the report stems from a presentation made by a Canadian Cancer Society representative at the Jan. 17 committee of the whole meeting.
Jerilynn Macki told council that a number of studies have linked pesticides to illnesses such as cancer as well as reproductive problems and neurological diseases.
For Ryan, the move towards a ban of pesticides not used for agricultural or forestry-related purposes is also a personal one.
He said his daughter helped organize a similar ban in North York when his family used to live in that Ontario city.
Council also noted that exploring a ban of cosmetic pesticides that are only used to keep lawns greener and weed-free falls in line with the Town’s commitment towards sustainability and environmentally friendly policies.
Staff were directed to have the report prepared for the March 21 council meeting and when Coun. Ted Cronmiller asked staff if that was a realistic timeline, Barry Romanko, the Town’s chief administrative officer, said the report could be prepared by that date.
TOWN LOOKING AT POSSIBLE COSMETIC PESTICIDE BAN | Osoyoos Times.