June 16, 2008
Queen’s Park – Liberal members of the Ontario Legislature’s Standing Committee on Social Policy have voted down NDP amendments that would have ensured stronger cosmetic pesticide ban legislation.
The 13 amendments, which were lauded by environmental groups, would have allowed Ontario municipalities to pass more stringent pesticide-restricting by-laws on top of the provincial legislation.
“The McGuinty Liberals are saying that municipalities cannot be entrusted with that responsibility. We think that’s just plain wrong. We believe local governments should have the right to pass stronger pesticide by-laws should they choose to do so,” said Peter Tabuns, the NDP’s Environment Critic.
The McGuinty government’s Bill 64 overrides municipal pesticide bans, meaning that some pesticides included in municipal bans may be permitted by provincial regulation. At an April press conference, Dalton McGuinty announced incorrectly that the legislation would allow municipalities to augment the ban.
Among the groups calling for the government to reverse its decision were the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the Toronto Medical Officer of Health, EcoJustice, the Canadian Environmental Law Association, the Registered Nurses of Ontario, and the Canadian Cancer Society.
“McGuinty seemed to think that overriding municipal by-laws was a bad idea when he made the announcement. I wonder whether the pesticide industry lobby had anything to do with changing his mind,” said Tabuns.
Media Inquiries: Peter Tabuns, 416-325-3250 |
