February, 2007

71 per cent of those polled support a provincial ban.

See entire survey 2007 - Ontario poll

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Last year's survey:

March, 2006

The Midland Free Press
Pesticide the issue that won't die at Queen's Park
By  James Wallace
A majority of Ontario voters support a province-wide ban on pesticide use in urban communities, shows a poll by SES Research/Osprey Media.
Local councils across the province have contemplated, considered or already passed bylaws to outlaw a broad range of lawn and garden chemicals, including Toronto, Peterborough and North Bay.
Others are currently contemplating bylaws.
As a consequence, there is a patchwork system across the province with some communities restricting pesticide use in whole or in part while others do not.
Though pesticide use is a controversial and sometimes emotional issue, health and environmental concerns as well as pressure from anti-pesticide groups are likely to continue fuel broader calls for restrictions.
And there may well be a broad public appetite for change.
The SES Research/Osprey Media poll found 57 per cent of those polled either strongly or somewhat support bylaws to outlaw the use of pesticides on non-rural residential and commercial property.
Just 26 per cent of respondents strongly or somewhat oppose a ban on pesticide use, 12 per cent fell neither supported nor opposed a ban and six per cent were unsure about where they stood.
The poll did not consider public opinion about pesticide use on farms or rural property.
Ontario's Liberal government hasn't contemplated a province-wide ban, preferring to let local councils decide the matter.
However, city councils across the province have been kicking this issue around for years.
Debate, on the often emotional issue of how far the state ought intervene in the homeowner's war against weeds and bugs has raged in large cities and small - from St. Catharines to Hamilton and Ottawa to Tillsonberg, which recently passed a bylaw encouraging residents "to use chemical pesticides and/or herbicides on their landscaping only when there is an observed need."
Homeowners and business people have used pesticides for decades to control dandelions and other weeds on lawns, boulevards and private property.
Municipalities have sprayed annually to keep parks, medians and other public areas weed-free and looking trim as have schools, hospitals, senior's homes and daycare centres.
Concerns about the West Nile virus have increased the use of bug sprays, both by government and private citizens.
Pesticide supporters argue the alternatives to chemicals are less effective and more expensive and suggest a ban will encourage homeowners to secretly, illegally and perhaps carelessly use the products.
While city councils can ban specific products from being used but they can't stop them from being legally sold in Ontario.
Meanwhile, some commercial users, such as golf courses, have profound practical and financial concerns about chemical alternatives and pesticide and herbicide companies fear they'll be put out of business.
On the other side, ban proponents have raised concerns about the health impact of pesticide use, particularly on children, and reservations have been expressed by groups ranging from the Canadian Cancer Society to the Ontario College of Family Physicians.
While there isn't a proven link between casual exposure to pesticides and higher cancer rates some evidence suggests such exposure may be harmful.
Environmentalists also point out that pesticide use is a major source of drinking water and environmental contamination.
Perhaps surprisingly, men were more likely than women to support a ban.
The SES Research/Osprey Media poll found 59 per cent of men compared to 55 per cent of women supported banning pesticides. Both one in four men and women opposed a ban.
Young people, aged 18 to 29, meanwhile, were less likely to support a province-wide pesticide ban than any other age group.
At 62 per cent, the 40 to 49 age group were most inclined to agree that chemicals shouldn't be used on the lawn while those who presumably spend the most time in the garden, Ontarians over the age of 60 (with 59 per cent support) also broadly support a ban.
The telephone survey of 500 Ontario voters was conducted between March 5 and March 8. It is considered accurate within 4.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
A detailed breakdown of the poll can be obtained at www.sesresearch.com
James Wallace is the Queen's Park bureau chief for the Osprey News Network.
Contact the writer at: jwallace@ospreymedialp.com or at www.ospreyblogs.com