Increase pesticide ban?

by Castanet Staff - Story: 52642 Feb 10, 2010 / 5:00 pm

Poll Results

Question: Should the current ban on cosmetic pesticides be increased to include professional applicators as well as homeowners? Yes 305 No 485 Total Votes: 790

Kelowna City Council wants pesticides banned throughout the province. Just how far that ban should go was a source of debate with council chambers Monday. Council, which established a pesticide bylaw that came into effect in 2009, is sending its support for proposed provincial legislation which would prohibit the sale and use of cosmetic pesticides by homeowners. The recommendations would also put restrictions on who could apply certain pesticides and how they could be sold.

However, some on council believed the recommendations don't go far enough. Councillor Charlie Hodge felt the restriction should include licensed applicators as well as homeowners. "If you want to go ahead and stop using pesticides fine. But, we are going to have to come to you and say 'if you want the same looks of your parks we will do our very best, but you'll also have to show us a significant increase to our operating budget,'" says Civic Operations Director Joe Creron. He says that increase could be as high as $700,000. "This is our opportunity to send a strong message and I think I heard staff say the alternate recommendation is better protection for our environment, it may cost a little bit more," says Councillor Michele Rule.

In a 5-3 vote, council agreed to recommend its current policy to the province, with Councillor Hodge, Rule and Angela Reid all voting against, favouring the harder line approach. "Quite personally, I don't think the recommendations are even strong enough yet, but they are a good start," says Councillor Charlie Hodge.