Edmonton Commission Considers Ban on Cosmetic Pesticides on Public and Private Lands

Edmonton City Council members discussed Monday a ban on the use of "cosmetic pesticides" on public and private property.

Some of the potential motivations for banning the use of cosmetic pesticides are "to balance the livability and aesthetic expectations of the people of Edmont while maintaining a natural system. It will be one tool for comprehensively protecting and preservingDescription of motion passed by Congress in April

The action of Congress in this regard led the City to enact ordinances "limiting certain uses of pesticides for the benefit of the environment." can pass.

READ MORE: City of Edmonton Introduces New Online Tool to Show Pesticide Use

16 A speaker from Weighing signed up to discuss the issue at a Community and Public Service Commission meeting held at City Hall.

All of the first eight speakers opposed the proposed ban. Many were individuals who worked in the landscaping and lawn care industry.

Daynen Kapler works with her Tru Green. He said 834 customers responded to the survey in 24 hours on Friday, indicating their opposition to the proposed pesticide ban.

Gavin Dawson, also of Tru Green, said, He said a similar ban in other jurisdictions would not work and would simply shift responsibility for use from professionals to homeowners. Dawson said it has led to a "do-it-yourself" approach in places like Ontario and Manitoba, creating an underground market for him.

Kyle Scram has worked in the landscaping and lawn care industry for 20 years. He told councilors he was concerned about how the ban would affect his livelihood.

"This will ruin our business." He said he saw him there.

30 years including land reclamation and naturalization work. He said the city's current level of maintenance was "despicable" and "ignored."

He showed pictures of overgrown playgrounds, parks, avenues, and storm drains.

"Edmonton is getting uglier," he said, adding that homeowners "don't want their private property to look like a city park."

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One of the speakers, Alexia Wagner, describes herself as a long-term Edmonton resident, avid gardener, and curator of the city's Front Yards in Bloom. said to be the winner.

She said the lawn care products are approved by Health Canada and that any potential ban on pesticide use on private property would be an "invasion" by the City Council. Ms. Wagner added that she lives across from Gallagher Park and that the city's commitment to green space management has caused her a lot of concern and is not very trusting. It described the park as "horribly poorly maintained and neglected" and called on the city to "stay in your lane."

"I should be allowed to keep my private property," Wagner said. rice field. ``I wish you could protect yourself.''

In April, the city council told the administration outlining steps to phase out the use of cosmetic pesticides on public and private property by 2023.

The report should include necessary changes to the city's pest management policy, community outreach and education, and enforcement options.

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City called for a cosmetic ban to introduce the use of pesticides in a phased approach (analysis and planning), outlining the resources needed, the budget, and ensuring that the policy was "consistent with the ongoing naturalization work and the pesticide It is based on the limited use of , and optimizes the integration of other ecosystem requirements. , Phase 2 will take up to 9 months to complete.

defines what is “use of” and includes public participation sessions and surveys. Phase 2 will include a legal review to determine the extent of the city's authority over the use of cosmetic pesticides on private property.

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Also in April, the council voted on an airborne mosquito control program to use helicopters to drop pesticides into temporary, stagnant water bodies in control areas around Edmonton. 7-4 in favor of abolishing

The conceptual provisional cost estimate for administration to complete Phases I and II is $471,950, according to the City's report.

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