Minister's Speech

House Statement for:

The Honourable John Gerretsen
Minister of the Environment

Banning the Cosmetic Use of Pesticides in Ontario
April 22, 2008 

(Check against delivery)

Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to rise today and to tell the house about important legislation that, if passed, would ban the sale and use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes across Ontario. 

This is a first step in Ontario’s new Toxics Reduction Strategy that we announced in November.

This proposed bill is designed to protect our people’s health, particularly that of our children.

Our government understands that by acting now, by tackling the toxics in our air, land, water and consumer products … we can help safeguard our environment.

More and more we understand how our health and the health of future generations is linked to the amount of chemicals seeping into our environment.

And it’s up to us all to take a stand and make a difference.

To that point, I would like to acknowledge Jan Kasperski, who is in the gallery today ...

Jan is CEO of the Ontario College of Family Physicians. 

She tells the story of how her grandson was running onto a lawn that had just been sprayed with pesticides. He was too young to read the warning sign. He picked up a ball and put it in his mouth. And he became gravely ill.  

As Jan says, “We need to choose the health of our children over the odd weed in our yard.”

Our government agrees.

We listened to Jan.

We listened to medical experts who have made a convincing case for reducing our exposure to pesticides, particularly for children who are more susceptible to the potential harmful effects.

And our proposed legislation benefits from their input, as well from the insight of diverse groups representing environmental, agriculture, industry and municipal interests, and others.

Our government would also like to recognize the good work of the Ontario chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society, Cancer Care Ontario and so many other organizations who fight this terrible disease and support those who suffer.

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Cancer Society has expressed its concern over growing evidence that exposure to pesticides may cause an increased risk of some types of cancer.

Numerous other studies have also shown that pesticides can negatively affect human health.

Therefore ─

Since the cosmetic use of pesticides has no health benefit,

Since it does have the potential to cause harm,

And since there are environmentally-friendly alternatives for lawn and garden care,

Our government is proposing this ban.

Pesticides ─ including herbicides, insecticides and fungicides ─ would be banned for use for cosmetic purposes …

… for example, sprays and chemicals that are applied merely to improve the appearance of lawns, gardens, parks and school yards.

The proposed legislation would allow pesticide use in Ontario’s agriculture and forestry sectors, since they already have strict rules on the storage and application of pesticides.

And exception will be made for golf courses ─ however that exception would only be given if golf courses complied with requirements set out in regulations that would be made if the legislation is enacted.

It would also allow pesticides to be used as needed to ensure public health, for instance to fight West Nile virus.

If passed, this legislation would authorize the province to develop a regulation listing the specific pesticides and active ingredients in lawn and garden products that would be banned.

We are posting the proposed legislation on the Environmental Bill of Rights Registry.

We ask that interested parties follow the link on the Ministry of the Environment’s home page to review the legislation, and to provide their comments by May 22, 2008.

And we hope that the final draft of the proposed legislation will be passed and the ban will go into effect for the 2009 growing season.

Mr. Speaker, today, we propose to ban the cosmetic use of pesticides across the province.

This is an important step towards protecting Ontario’s children and families from needless exposure to harmful chemicals …

I urge all members to support this legislation.

Thank you.

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