Overview
Ontario’s PESTICIDE BAN of two years is now starting to annoy a growing number of residents who are just a bit tired of seeing EVERY GREEN SPACE NOW A FIELD OF DANDELIONS ! [ a.k.a. GARBAGE DUMPS ]
On May 9th, 2012, Mr. Ted Chudleigh moved first reading his Bill 88, An Act to AMEND the Pesticides Act to provide for the use of pest control products for cosmetic purposes WITH A LICENCE.
Mr. Chudleigh’s bill was defeated on its second reading on May 31st, 2012.
However, the amending bill had a GREAT DEAL OF VALUE, for among other things, it BROUGHT TOGETHER THE GREAT SWELL OF THE PUBLIC who now think Anti-Pesticide PROHIBITION HAS GONE WAY TOO FAR.
Ontario Pesticide Ban ― Two Years Later
Ontario Is A GARBAGE DUMP
Ontario’s PESTICIDE BAN of two years is now starting to annoy a growing number of residents who are just a bit tired of seeing EVERY GREEN SPACE NOW A FIELD OF DANDELIONS ! [ a.k.a. GARBAGE DUMPS ]
PROVINCE OF ONTARIO – LIVING IN ENVIRONMENTAL INFAMY ( Web-Page )
PROVINCE OF ONTARIO – 2011 POLL REGARDING PROHIBITION ( Web-Page )
Introduction of Chudleigh’s Private Member’s Bill
On May 31st, 2012, a Private Member’s Bill introduced by Ted Chudleigh, Member of Provincial Parliament for Halton in Ontario, was defeated by a combination of members of the Liberal and New Democratic Party ( NDP ) caucuses.
Ted Chudleigh’s bill was designed to AMEND the Pesticides Act which came into effect on April 22nd, 2009.
On May 9th, 2012, Mr. Chudleigh moved first reading his Bill 88, An Act to AMEND the Pesticides Act to provide for the use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes WITH A LICENCE.
It passed first reading.
Then, the Liberals and NDP members ganged up to defeat the bill on its second reading on May 31st, 2012.
Value of Chudleigh’s Bill
However, the amending bill had a GREAT DEAL OF VALUE, for among other things, it BROUGHT TOGETHER THE GREAT SWELL OF THE PUBLIC who now think THE ORIGINAL 2009 PROHIBITION HAS GONE WAY TOO FAR.
According to Mr. Chudleigh, in the House on May 9th, 2012 ―
Basically, this bill ALLOWS A PROFESSIONAL APPLICATOR TO APPLY APPROVED PESTICIDES to control weeds or pests on your lawn or garden.
It should be noted that Mr. Chudleigh’s bill ONLY INCLUDED APPLICATION BY PROFESSIONAL APPLICATORS, and DID NOT include application of pest control products by home-owners/gardeners themselves !
Had I been introducing a private members bill on this topic, I would have included application of these chemicals by home-owners as well as by professional applicators.
I personally believe, based on my observation of the entire pesticide application scene in both Canada and the USA for the past 40+ years, that caring home-owners can do at least as good a job of applying the needed pesticides as can professional applicators.
But, that is a discussion for yet another time !
Objective of Chudleigh’s Bill
Further, according to Ted Chudleigh ―
There are SERIOUS FLAWS with the Liberal ban on pesticide use.
Instead of ensuring pesticides are properly applied, the ban risks creating an UNMONITORED BLACK MARKET which is A GREATER THREAT TO OUR ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH because of the unprofessional and improper application of pesticides.
The Pest Management Regulatory Agency ( PMRA ) of Health Canada undertakes RIGOROUS TESTING before approving a pesticide for use in Canada.
The system I am proposing accepts the science behind these tests, and uses the existing licencing framework under the Pesticides Act to ensure that pesticides are applied properly and are not a threat to our health or environment.
Toronto Is A GARBAGE DUMP
Turning specifically to the situation in the City of Toronto, GRASSY SPACES HAVE A SCRUFFY AND NEGLECTED LOOK. [ a.k.a. GARBAGE DUMPS ]
Legions of dandelion stalks are topped by puffs of white seed.
Parks are so crowded with weeds that THE GRASS WILL NEVER GROW FAST ENOUGH TO BECOME DOMINANT AGAIN.
Public spaces are quite literally going to seed.
The grass is LOSING.
The lawns in some parks are LITERALLY DESTROYED.
The turf in many parks is UNSALVAGEABLE.
There has been A MARKED INCREASE IN WEEDS, especially dandelions, on both public and private properties.
They are mowing ONLY WEEDS.
Anti-Pesticide PROHIBITION DESTROYED Toronto’s public and residential green spaces by TURNING THEM INTO GARBAGE DUMPS.
CARNAGE LEADING TO GARBAGE DUMP GREEN SPACES ( Web-Page )
Toronto’s FAILED Cultural Practices
Instead of spraying with pest control products, the City of Toronto now CUTS THE GRASS MORE OFTEN ― every five business days on average instead of every seven to 10.
This cultural practice WILL NOT CONTROL WEEDS.
The aim is to « dead head » the weeds before they start spreading their seeds, although if the state of David Balfour Park, where a friend walked recently is any indication, THE MOWERS OFTEN COME TOO LATE.
The City of Toronto has also RAISED ITS MOWER BLADES to increase the cutting height to three inches.
This cultural practice WILL NOT CONTROL WEEDS.
That is supposed to ease the stress on the grass and help it fight back against invading weeds.
This cultural practice WILL NOT CONTROL WEEDS.
Lawn-care experts say IT IS NOT WORKING.
Kyle Tobin of LawnSavers Plant Health Care says that after a wet spring and dry summer last year … « this is the worst season I’ve ever seen for grubs and weeds, and I’ve been in the business 22 years ».
Home-owners can control weeds with a concerted program of fertilizing, over-seeding and aerating the grass, say the Enviro-Maniacs [ who are wrong ! ], but, with 1,500 parks and 4,300 hectares of maintained turf to tend, the City of Toronto DOESN’T HAVE THE MONEY FOR ANYTHING THAT AMBITIOUS, except on some experimental patches.
So, the weeds are moving in-not just the almighty dandelion, but thistle, plantain, clover, black medic, spurge, knotweed and crabgrass, without even mentioning the poison ivy and toxic giant hogweed you find in Toronto ravines.
The grass is losing !
Already, says Mr. Tobin, the turf in many parks is UNSALVAGEABLE ― so crowded with weeds that the grass will never grow fast enough to become dominant again.
The lawns in some parks are « LITERALLY DESTROYED » he says.
« THEY ARE MOWING WEEDS. »
Many Anti-Pesticide Environ-Maniacs would say … « Fine, a few dandelions are a small price to pay for the health of children who play in the parks and roll on the lawns. » [ this is wrong ! ]
NO Proof That Pesticides Cause Harm
The problem is that there is NO PROOF THAT THE BANNED WEED CONTROL PRODUCTS HARM ANYONE’S HEALTH.
In a review of the latest scientific evidence in 2008, Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency determined that the most popular weed control product, 2,4-D, « meets Canada’s strict health and safety standards, and as such can continue to be sold and used in Canada ».
On May 17th, 2012, a special committee of British Columbia legislators concluded that THERE WAS NO REASON TO QUESTION HEALTH CANADA’S JUDGMENT AND IMPOSE AN ANTI-PESTICIDE PROHIBITION LIKE ONTARIO.
According to British Columbia’s Special Committee On Cosmetic Pesticides, in an exhaustive 118-page report ―
The committee concluded that despite the intensity of arguments in favour of a ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides and a general misunderstanding of the risks associated with chemicals, THERE IS INSUFFICIENT SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT A PROVINCE-WIDE BAN on pesticides for cosmetic use.
PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA – SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON COSMETIC PESTICIDES ( Web-Page )
For the original copy of this Force Of Nature Report, go to the following link …
The Wisdom of Art C. Drysdale
NORAHG has archived more information about DRYSDALE on The Pesticide Truths Web-Site …
https://pesticidetruths.com/toc/the-wisdom-of-art-c-drysdale/
Art C. Drysdale
Media highlights and accomplishments
Mr. Drysdale is one of Canada’s best-known horticulturists.
Mr. Drysdale is best known for his syndicated radio show and commercials for the Garden Claw.
For the past four decades, he has been writing, and presenting radio and television broadcasts, with PRACTICAL GARDENING HINTS on stations such as CFRB, AM740 and CFCA.
His radio GARDENING VIGNETTES are heard throughout South-Western Ontario over two radio stations ―
● Easy 101 FM out of Tillsonburg at 2:00 PM weekdays
● CD98.9 FM out of Norfolk County at 11:40 AM weekdays
Mr. Drysdale also presented all of Canada’s Weather Network GARDENING VIGNETTES, hourly from April to October annually for a decade.
He was the spokesman for the Garden Claw across the country.
As a speaker, Mr. Drysdale has addressed amateur and professional groups all across Canada, as well as in the United States, England, Holland, Switzerland, Australia, South Africa, and aboard cruise ships.
Fields of study and alma mater
1958 – 1961 ― Mr. Drysdale attended The Niagara Parks Commission School of Gardening ( now NPC Botanical Garden and School of Horticulture ), where he won all five awards presented at the graduation. He initiated and edited the school’s first yearbook.
1957 ― He graduated from East York Collegiate with the Ontario Secondary School Honour Graduation Diploma.
1955 – 1969 ― He was active and held several executive positions in the East York Garden Club.
Notable work at Shur-Gain
March 1961 – August 1962 ― After graduation, Mr. Drysdale worked with the Shur-Gain Division of Canada Packers where he …
● consulted with consumers and the turf industry
● developed new consumer fertilizer products ( Feed ‘n Weedaway )
● wrote various consumer literature
Notable work with Sheridan Nurseries
1962 – 1969 ― Mr. Drysdale was then employed with Sheridan Nurseries Limited.
Drysdale was Chief Horticulturist and Advertising Manager, with full responsibility for Sheridan catalogues and botanical nomenclature.
Notable work with Parks/Recreation Association
1964 ― Mr. Drysdale was appointed part-time Executive Director and Editor with the Canadian Parks/Recreation Association ( CP/RA ), with the office in his home.
1969 – 70 ― He was employed full-time as Executive Director of Canadian Parks/Recreation Association, and Editor of Recreation Canada magazine.
Early 1971 ― He set up Canadian Parks/Recreation Association’s first permanent office in Ottawa.
Notable work with Garden Writers Association
1973 ― Mr. Drysdale was appointed Regional Director ( Canada ) of the Garden Writers Association of America
( GWAA ).
1979 – 1981 ― He served as President of the Garden Writers Association of America, and was the first-ever Canadian to hold the office, representing over 1,000 members, mostly in the U.S.A.
Notable work with publications
December 1963 – March 1969 ― Mr. Drysdale wrote a feature column for a new magazine, CANADIAN NURSERYMAN. He was also a member of the founding committee.
1971 – 1978 ― He free-lanced as a horticultural writer, and published/edited RECREATION CANADA magazine.
Notable work with books
March 1975 ― Dent Canada published Mr. Drysdale’s book GARDENING OFF THE GROUND that he wrote on the invitation of the publisher. It was the first Canadian book for balcony gardeners.
July 1996 ― He self-published his book GARDENING OFF THE GROUND in a completely revised and enlarged version, including his own colour photos.
GARDENING OFF THE GROUND is Canada’s most successful and most practical book on container gardening.
Mr. Drysdale’s New Book Edition
April 2012 ― In 2012, Mr. Drysdale rereleased a NEW EDITION of GARDENING OFF THE GROUND.
It has 168 pages, 70 sketches, six pages of colour photos and cover photo of my balcony. Now, breaking news,
Mr. Drysdale also converted the book into an e-book which avoids all the costs of printing, shipping and handling.
For a copy, simply send Mr. Drysdale an e-mail to art@artdrysdale.com OR call this Toronto number 647-977-7507.
Mr. Drysdale today
A life-long resident of Toronto, Mr. Drysdale is now a resident of Parksville, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island, just north of Nanaimo.
He has renovated an old home and has a new garden there.
Drysdale’s Wisdom
In his daily radio GARDENING VIGNETTES, and his weekly I-CAN-GARDEN BLOG, Mr. Drysdale has effectively and consistently spoken out against activists and anti-pesticide prohibitions.
NORAHG has archived more information about TED CHUDLEIGH on The Pesticide Truths Web-Site …
Ontario Pesticide Ban — 2012 06 02 — Based On Junk Science — Ted Chudleigh — Ontario College Of Family Physicians — Literature Review — Crop Life — Pierre Petelle — Cathy Vakil — Gideon Forman ( Reports )
Ontario Pesticide Ban — 2012 05 18 — STRIKING BACK — Amendment to Pesticide Ban — Chudleigh — Steeves ( Reports )
Ontario Pesticide Ban — 2012 05 09 — STRIKING BACK — Beginning To Repeal Anti-Pesticide Prohibition — Chudleigh ( Reports )
