Originally published December 13 2005
Canadian Supreme Court upholds ban on pesticides
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The City of Toronto has seen its ban on pesticides upheld by the highest court in the country, and for now it seems that the pesticide industry has run out of ways to contest the decision.
The decision means the pesticide industry has exhausted all legal avenues in its attempts to strike down the city's bylaw, which restricts the use of pesticides on lawns and gardens.
The pesticide industry, represented by CropLife Canada and the Urban Pest Management Council, had asked the Supreme Court to hear an appeal of the bylaw, which restricts the use of pesticides on lawns and gardens.
The bylaw --- passed by Toronto council in 2003 --- essentially banned the use of pesticides with few exceptions.
The pesticide industry challenged it arguing it duplicates existing federal and provincial laws on pesticide use, which are also designed to protect health and safety.
"To have city councils across Ontario passing bylaws to regulate the same thing that the province and the feds already regulate is a complete waste of taxpayers' money," said Conlon, executive director of the council.
Conlon added it was ironic that Toronto uses pesticides for mosquito control, citing Health Canada's approval, while ignoring Health Canada's okay on pesticides to control dandelions.
Forman, whose group participated as one of six intervenors in the appeal court case, accused the industry of using the courts to discourage other municipalities from passing bylaws.
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment said some 70 communities across Canada have similar laws in place but municipalities often face tough battles getting them passed --- the city of Ottawa failed just last month to bring in a pesticide ban.
Justin Duncan of the Sierra Legal Defence Fund said he thinks other jurisdictions will now follow Toronto's lead.
"I think a lot of municipalities were just waiting to see what happened with this case --- I think we'll be seeing a flood of these type of bylaws now that it's clear that municipalities have jurisdiction to enact them," Duncan said.
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