 EarthCare
steps up pressure for pesticide notification system
June 6th 2003
By Judie Steeves, staff reporter
Although Kelowna city council didn’t unanimously embrace
EarthCare’s idea of a registry of people who wish to be notified
prior to pesticide spraying of adjacent properties, the society
is not going to let up the pressure.
Director Lloyd Manchester says it’s particularly important
that Kelowna have such a registry because it’s a “spray-crazy
city.”
“This is not a bylaw, it’s simply a system where people
can register and pesticide users can access the addresses of people
who want to be notified,” he explained.
He’d like to see such a registry set up in the coming weeks.
EarthCare is circulating petitions to let council know how many
people want one.
At the Mayor’s Environmental Expo last weekend, he says EarthCare
had petitions available and 90 adults signed up immediately.
Most were familiar with the proposal for a registry and agreed
with it, said Manchester.
EarthCare appeared at the last Kelowna council meeting requesting
the registry be established, and that council consider a bylaw banning
pesticide use for cosmetic purposes within the city’s boundaries.
Such bylaws already exist in a number of communities across the
country, and more are in the process of being drafted, said Manchester.
For instance,Port Moody has embarked on a three-year educational
campaign which will result in a bylaw banning pesticide use for
cosmetic purposes, and both Salmon Arm and Victoria and the District
of Saanich are developing similar ones.
However, when the idea was put to Kelowna council, Manchester said
he was surprised by how many councillors knew little about pesticides.
Others reacted very positively to the idea, he said.
He also had a number of calls responding to the presentation, and
received a letter from a lady who is particularly sensitive to pesticides,
who was heartily in favour of both a registry and a bylaw.
Petitions have been circulated around town, but anyone who would
like to sign or circulate one can call EarthCare at 861-4788.
Manchester said he’d like to gather them together by the
middle of June for presentation to council.
EarthCare has also asked for a meeting with the Interior Environment
Management Association, which includes pesticide applicators.
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