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Program or Service Description:

The goal of the ministry's pesticides program is to ensure the protection of public health and the environment by working with stakeholders through education, outreach and administration of legislation to manage the sale, use, storage, transportation and disposal of federally registered and provincially classified pesticides. The Pesticides Act and Ontario Regulation 63/09 provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for the management of pesticides to prevent adverse effects of pesticides on health and the environment.

The Pesticides Act s. 7 indicates that, unless exempt under the regulations, no person shall perform a land, structural or water extermination unless the person is the holder of a permit for the extermination. In general, pesticide applications that may pose a higher risk to human health or the environment require a permit from the ministry. Permits apply to a specific extermination and may impose site-specific restrictions/requirements on the use of the pesticide. Examples of pesticide use that may require a permit include (see explanation of pesticide Classes below):

1. Land application of a Class 2, 3 or 4 pesticide that contains picloram;
2. Aerial application of a Class 2 pesticide;
3. Aerial application of a Class 3 pesticide that contains 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, mecoprop, MCPA, MCPB, dichlorprop, dicamba, paraquat or triclopyr;
4. Aerial application of a Class 3 or 4 pesticide performed in connection with the management of a crown forest;
5. Applications of pesticides to water;
6. Use of a Class 2 pesticide to fumigate a building, portion of a building, or in a vehicle or structure; and

The permit process requires that application forms and support documentation be submitted to the ministry for review. The review and processing of permit applications for land and water exterminations is undertaken by the ministry's Operations Division, Technical Support Section. The ministry's Environmental Sciences and Standards Division, Standards Development Branch, Pesticides Section leads the review and approval of permit applications for structural exterminations using a fumigant gas.

Overall:

The ministry is committed to the OPS service principles (i.e., accessible, responsive, reliable, caring, accountable; consistent, predictable, transparent, continuous improvement) and OPS common service standards (i.e., response times to general phone calls, mail, email, fax) as outlined in the ministry's service charter.

Program- or Service-specific Standards:

• The ministry will process and communicate the decision to the applicant within 5 business days of receipt of required supporting documents and a complete Application for a Permit to Perform a Water Extermination for West Nile Virus Control
• Feedback on the process, or any other inquiries, can be directed to the ministry's Public Information Centre and a response will be provided within 15 business days (see below)

Program or Service Information:

Information regarding the ministry's pesticides program can be found on the ministry web site at: http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/land/pesticides/index.php

Program or Service-specific Feedback:

If you would like to contact someone about your permit please call:

Northern Region Office: 807-475-1205
Eastern Region Office: 613-549-4000
Central Region Office: 416-326-6700
West Central Region Office: 905-521-7640
Southwestern Region Office: 519-873-5000

More information on our regional and district contact information can be found here: http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/contact/regionalmap.php.

General Feedback:

Feedback on the ministry's service delivery is welcome through the following channels:

Online:	MOE Internet site under Contact Us
In person:	At any ministry front counter office across the province
Telephone:	416-325-4000 or 1-800-565-4923
TTY:	416-326-9236 or 1-800-515-2759
Fax:	416-325-3159
Email:	picemail.moe@ontario.ca
Mail:	Public Information Centre 135 St. Clair Ave West, 1st Floor Toronto, Ontario M4V 1P5