By Chris Andrews, Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA)

It is time to sit up and take serious notice of what is happening on the Pesticide front. Activist groups such as The Sierra Club have targeted the lawn care industry (for now) as a group that is poisoning our environment and causing all kinds of deadly diseases, including killing children. They are lobbying Canadian municipalities to have the use of pesticides banned outright for what they are calling "cosmetic" or "non-essential" uses. Their arguments are not supported fully by facts and, if they do present some, they are incomplete and present fear-mongering tactics to achieve their goals.

     Already Hudson and Chelsea counties in Quebec, Halifax, Toronto and now Saskatoon have placed bans on public and some private lands within their cities. The former two areas banned their use on all public and private lands. Halifax banned pesticide application within the city limits, Toronto on public lands and Saskatoon recently proposed supporting a ban on public lands.

     The provincial associations and the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) have met via conference call since Bill C388 received its first reading in Ottawa and the subsequent report from the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development report to the House of Commons to develop a battle line against these proposals. Position papers were developed, together with full packages of scientific evidence that supports the safe use of pesticides. These packages are available from the provincial associations and the CNLA, as well as the report summary presented by the Standing Committee. A copy of the CNLA position is reprinted below.

     The associations continue to work for the industry for control, regulation and reduction of pesticides rather than a ban on the use of all pest­icides. It is therefore essential that industry does its part to ensure that application directions are followed carefully and that pesticides are used judiciously.


Letter sent to Federal MPs
For immediate release


Pesticide use in Canada
MILTON, ONTARIO, May 3, 2000 - The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) represents professional nursery growers, retail garden centres and landscapers across Canada, and together with these professionals, supports and has lobbied for stringent controls and regulations for the use of pesticides.

     As the only true "Green Industry," controls for pest and disease have been a serious component of the industry and for which programs and licensing have been part of business for many years - all provinces require licensing for any pesticide applicator through tough testing. President Bruce McTavish stated: "We use pesticides as one of a number of tools to protect our products from the ravages of pest and disease." McTavish further indicated, "Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and pesticides as a tool of last resort have been widely practised for many years by our members, who see themselves as working for and with the environment." McTavish went on to say, "CNLA agrees with and supports reduced use of pesticides using an integrated approach rather than the total ban as recommended in the recent Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development report to the House of Commons."

     Gardening is the fastest growing leisure activity in North America and will continue to grow as the retiring population increases. Currently, the Lawn and Garden industry in Canada employs over 120,000 people through more than 20,000 Canadian businesses and produces a staggering $7 billion in consumer sales.

     Suggestions to ban the use of pesticides for "non-essential" use is a reaction not supported by hard scientific evidence. Suggestions of children dying, deformities, cancer and lymphoma are indications that these diseases are prevalent in our society, due to many forms of environmental pollution but do not connect pesticides directly to them. In fact, the National Cancer Institute of Canada reported "… it was not aware of any definitive evidence to suggest that synthetic pesticides contribute significantly to overall cancer mortality…" It also concluded, "… it did not believe that any increased intake of pesticide residues associated with increased intake of fruits and vegetables poses any increased risk of cancer…" (1997 American Cancer Society; Cancer 1997; 80:2019-33). As well, reports by the World Health Organization of 220,000 deaths due to pesticides did not include the information that 91 per cent of these deaths were suicides. (Dr. Dixy Lee Ray, BSC. The Digger, December 1993). Full disclosure of the facts is critically important when the bans of anything are being considered.

     CNLA supports the continued use of IPM combined with the use of good, effective and environmentally friendly pesticides. The PMRA, a division of Health Canada, is responsible for the registration of pesticides in Canada of which the criteria for registration is one of the most stringent in the world. Suggesting that pesticides be banned across the country is government not listening to the very department that it set up to strictly control their registration.

For further information, contact:
Chris D. Andrews
Executive Director
Canadian Nursery Landscape Association
Phone: 905-875-1399, Fax: 905-875-1840
E-mail: cnla@canadanursery.com