Citizens' Forum on Public Policy

TO: Chair and Members

Committee of the Whole

FROM: Alison Mewett, Supervisor Environmental Planning & Parks; and

Echo Hiebert, Waste Reduction Coordinator

To continue to explore options for the reduction and/or elimination of the use of pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides) in the Regional District.

History/Background Factors

See previous report, dated July 11, 2000.

Is there a problem?

Copies of two newspaper articles are attached – "Good lawn care will pay off" (Comox Valley Record, May 9/01) and "Pesticide use remains at dangerous levels in B.C." (Vancouver Sun, May 26/01).

The Urban Pest Management Council of Canada represents manufacturers, formulators, distributors, applicators, etc of pest management products for consumer and professional markets. UPMC states in the first article: "Homeowners who use pesticides as part of their lawn care regime need to choose the right product for the right problem, and to use it at the right time. This means reading the product label before purchase, consulting with gardening staff and following the directions when applying. If applied according to label directions, pesticides are effective and pose little risk."

In May 2000 the House of Commons environment committee urged the federal government to impose a ban within five years on all pesticides used for ‘cosmetic purposes’, such as residential weed killer. The committee, as stated in the second article, stated, "Pesticides are known to play, or are suspected of playing, a role in a myriad of diseases and developmental abnormalities, including cancer (brain, breast, stomach, prostrate and testicular), childhood leukemia, reduced fertility, damage to the thyroid and pituitary glands, lowered immunity, developmental abnormalities and behavioural problems."

Note: the Liberal government rejected the proposal, in favour of distributing more education materials, and to do more health and environmental studies by the end of 2001.

What is the extent of the problem?

• 1999 Statistics Canada – 6.4 million Canadians had a lawn and garden
• 1999 Angus Reid – 66% of Canadian homeowners with lawns and gardens (4.2 million) reported using herbicides, insecticides or both during previous year.
• 1996, BC poisoning statistics – 571 of 19,000 toxin exposures were from pesticides (including rodent killers).
• 2000 – survey of 400 homes in Victoria and Saanich – 85% had pesticides on their property; 57% used pesticides on lawns, gardens or driveways.
• 1999 - Crop Protection Institute, reported $1.35 billion in total Canadian pesticide and herbicide sales; of these $1.13 billion is herbicides and 95% of these are sprayed on agricultural crops 
• 1999 – estimated 8 million kilograms of pesticide-active ingredients were bought or used in BC (5 million in 1991)
• 1999 – 85% of pesticides used in BC are commercially-applied wood preservatives and anti sap-stain chemicals (78% in 1991)
• 1991 survey in BC – of all pesticides used, 3.5% were for domestic use, 4.1% were used in landscape service

Application of pesticides is regulated by Pesticide Control Act (must be done by qualified professional and administered in a prescribed manner).

Crown land/public utility/local government use – pest management plans are required for forestry and public utility use and are subject to public review, IPMP plans must be submitted for use on properties controlled by local government. There is an opportunity for RDCS to comment on these plans and to choose not to allow use of pesticides on their own land.

Industry – "85% of pesticides used are commercially applied wood preservatives and anti sap-stain chemicals" – little, if any, opportunity for RDCS to control (however does this warrant closer scrutiny about where forest industry is located ?)

Agriculture – significant amount used – regulation? There is likely little opportunity for RDCS to control or comment.

Residential – 8% of pesticides used ( by volume). This is the greatest opportunity for RDCS to control.

What can be done?

Regulation – 

• Restrict the sale of pesticides through zoning. This would be precedent setting in B.C. 
• Restrict by bylaw the use of pesticides. In June, 2001 the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the right of Hudson, Quebec to enact a bylaw restricting the use of pesticides within its municipal borders. Copies of the Hudson bylaw and a similar bylaw from Halifax are attached. 

• Request for an Order in Council from Lieutenant Governor to establish a ‘Health Protection Service’ (s.523, Local Government Act). Subject to the Health Act and approval by the Minister of Health the RDCS could by bylaw "regulate for the purposes of maintaining, promoting or preserving public health or maintaining sanitary conditions, and undertake any other measures it considers necessary for those purposes."

• Hire staff to work towards reduction of use (similar to Waste Reduction Coordinator) and/or formalise the integration of pesticide/herbicide reduction, and safe alternatives education into the programmes already being provided at the two regional district compost education centres in the Comox Valley and in Campbell River. These two centres and the Operational Services outreach community education programmes cover basic waste reduction and 3Rs education as well as water conservation and xeriscape gardening. 
• Encourage, through education (moral–suasion), reduction in private sector use 
• Invite representatives from industry, government, and NGO’s to present their ideas and perspectives (eg. Urban Pest Management Council of Canada, Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection (MWALP) re: Integrated Pest Management Program, and the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation)

• Declare the Regional District (or parts thereof) a ‘pesticide free zone’.
• Lobby MWALP & other regulating bodies to return certain household products which were removed and add others to the hazardous designation which would ensure that only qualified people could sell and use these products. 

• Support organic farming, e.g. by subsidizing stall fees at the farmers market for certified organic growers.

• distribute MWALP brochures on alternative pest control.

• help establish/fund a disposal facility, through lobbying the Consumer Product Stewardship Association and MWALP to locate an additional Household Hazardous Waste facility in the Comox Valley.

1. Operational Services already has an established educational outreach program for the reduction of waste. Adding pesticides and herbicides to their mandate is logical but would likely require increased funding.
2. Supporting safe disposal of old product through funding support of hazard waste collection.
3. Bylaw restrictions on the sale of pesticides may be possible through zoning but would likely be challenged.
4. Bylaw restrictions on the use of pesticides (similar to other municipalities) may be possible through the provisions of the ‘Health Protection Service’ under s. 523 of the Local Government Act.
5. The RDCS could take a public stand as being opposed to the use of pesticides by various means such as: lobbying the government to regulate products currently not regulated; declaring the RDCS a ‘pesticide free zone’; promoting and supporting organic farming and products; and/or lobbying for the establishment of a hazardous waste collection depot in the Comox Valley.

Staff awaits direction.
 

Respectfully submitted:	Respectfully submitted:
_________________________________ Alison Mewett, BCSLA Supervisor,  Environmental Planning & Parks	__________________________________ Echo Hiebert Waste Reduction Coordinator

 
 

Concurrence:	Concurrence:
Harry Harker, MCIP General Manager,  Development Services	Bruce Williams,  Chief Administrative Officer