Release: May 23, 2013
CropLife Canada is launching a Twitter campaign to raise awareness about the value of urban pesticides in our communities. As we all know, healthy lawns, gardens and public parks play an important role in our society – they increase pride in our communities, encourage physical activity, provide food and habitat for wildlife, produce oxygen and store carbon and pollution among other things.
The Special Committee on Cosmetic Pesticides posted its 118 page report on May 17, 2012 concluding there is insufficient evidence to warrant a provincial wide ban on pesticides used for cosmetic purposes. The Allied Golf Association of British Columbia was heavily involved in the process since August 2010 as a both committee witness and resource. The AGA was also active in motivating individual golf facilities to contact their local politicians to voice their opinions on the matter.
By Jerry Rousseau
Regarding the BC Ministry of Environment’s proposed pesticide use regulatory change announcement circulated earlier today (October 9th, 2013), we encourage you to read the Intentions Paper carefully and submit your comments/ questions to MOE. You are also encouraged to pass this information along to stakeholders who are not WCTA or BCGSA members.
Read more: Further to Proposed IPM Act Regulatory Changes Just Announced
Pesticide Issue Update – May, 2013
By Jerry Rousseau
The pesticide issue was heating up once again in BC as we approached the provincial election. Media and pollsters certainly had people believing the NDP would become our new government which for sportsturf and golf course managers, was sure to mean swiftly introduced, restrictive pesticide use legislation. Cause for worry, it wasn’t clear where sportsturf would stand as the NDP’s previously introduced bills flip-flopped between full and partial provincial bans.
On July 24, British Columbia Environment Minister Terry Lake met with a small group of local golf industry personnel at the Radium Resort Golf Course in Radium Hot Springs to discuss concerns over the issue of ‘cosmetic’ pesticides. While the Special Committee on Cosmetic Pesticides struck by Premier Christy Clark released a no-ban recommendation at the end of May, many golf business people remain concerned about implementation of the recommendations and cost of complying with any new regulations.
Read more: Environment Minister Terry Lake Reassures Golf Industry