Originally published October 21 2005
Ottawa may implement a complete ban of pesticides by 2007
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Ottawa Mayor Bob Chiarelli has led a public education program to help reduce the use of pesticides in the city, and now he and the city council are considering a total ban that would take effect in 2007.
Mayor Bob Chiarelli wants to give Ottawa citizens more time to voluntarily stop using lawn pesticides before imposing a ban on the chemicals.
On Tuesday, the mayor held a news conference flanked by the city's most influential doctors and health officials.
They delivered the message that the cosmetic use of pesticides poses a serious health risk to children, seniors, pregnant women and other vulnerable residents.
It came as the city nears the end of a three-year strategy, adopted in December 2002, to reduce pesticide use through a public education campaign.
Now Chairelli says he supports at least another year of grace before any ban takes effect.
"We need to have that one year," he said, "so people can get acclimatized to the idea, they can learn about the alternatives [and] they can find non-pesticide management of lawns can be just as good and just as effective.
And so, they need a year to practice."
That would mean implementing the ban in January 2007, just weeks after next year's municipal election.
"I'm prepared to launch an election campaign on it.
I'm not afraid of it," said the mayor.
The bylaw that councillors will vote on Thursday includes various options that leave the door open until July 2007, or even 2008 before a ban takes effect.
Ottawa city councillor Jan Harder, a vociferous opponent of the ban who's not running for re-election, says councillors should take a stand now if they really back the health principles in the bylaw.
"If councillors really believe that then they should not be chickens, and they should not hold off until 2007.
Health professionals, meanwhile, are keeping quiet on the timing of a ban, saying they'll leave it up to the politicians to decide.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml