Action Alert: Deadline May 22, 2008

1. Submit your comments to the EBR

Registry Number:  010-3348 here:

Click here to submit your comments

Click on the Submit Comment button (middle of page right hand side) and once you’ve filled out the form, click on Save which will submit your comments.

The key points to emphasize are:

1. The provincial ban should still allow municipalities to pass more restrictive bylaws, as stated by Premier McGuinty when the legislation was introduced.

2. The only exemptions should be to protect public health. There should be no exemptions for “other prescribed uses”.

3. The Bill needs to focus on products that will be allowed rather than a list of prohibited active ingredients and products, with effective mechanisms to ensure the integrity of that list. e.g. Roundup/glyphosate is currently NOT on the banned list, but should be.

2. Write to The Honourable Dalton McGuinty,  Minister Gerretsen and your own MPP

dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org   cc:  jgerretsen.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org cc: your own MPP

We have been told directly from Premier McGuinty’s office that he does not see the EBR submissions, so it is critical that we write to the premier emphasizing the importance of municipalities retaining the right to enact more restrictive pesticide bylaws.

Please personalize and send a letter, emphasizing the following points:

Sample Letter:

To The Honourable Dalton McGuinty,

I am writing to say that, although I support most of the proposed Provincial Pesticide Legislation banning the sale and use of lawn and garden pesticides, I strongly believe that we need the following changes to Bill 64 so that this legislation does not leave us vulnerable to future, unnecessary pesticide use.

a) Remove the clause, "Bylaw-laws inoperative - (5) A municipal by-law is inoperative if it addresses the use, sale, offer for sale or transfer of a pesticide that may be used for a cosmetic purpose". Cities and towns should retain the authority to enact pesticide bylaws that are more health-protective than the provincial ban.

b) Remove the clause "Excepted uses (2) 5. “Other prescribed uses". The only exemption should be to protect public health.

c) The Bill needs to focus on products that will be allowed rather than a list of prohibited active ingredients and products, with effective mechanisms to ensure the integrity of that list. e.g. Roundup/glyphosate is currently NOT on the banned list, but should be.