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12 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 14, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com No plan on how pesticide ban will be enforced Continued from page 1 The same poll also found that about 61 per cent of residents with lawns or gardens say they haven't used pesticides in the last two years. Pesticide use is highest among residents over the age of 35, those living in Ward 3 and those who pay someone else to maintain their lawns, according to the Logit Group, which conducted the poll. "This really validated, for me, a lot of what I've been trying to champion here," said Knoll, who along with Ward 4 Councillor Alan Elgar, introduced the proposed anti-pesticide bylaw to council. The public opinion poll found that about two-thirds of residents consider the pesticide issue to be a public health issue, with the remaining third viewing it as a property rights issue. Ward 6 Councillor Max Khan, a lawyer by profes- "There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't ask myself, `What was it that I ate that made me sick? What was it that I drank? What was it that I inhaled?" Ward 6 Councillor Max Khan, a survivor of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, one illness cited by the Canadian Cancer Society as having a potential link to pesticide use. Ward 6 councillor Max Khan sion, noted that property rights, which are not constitutionally guaranteed in Canada, are trumped by the constitutional right to life and security. "This is not only a legally-binding argument, it's a morally-binding argument," he noted. He added that the will of the majority in a democracy shouldn't be the only consideration for political decision-makers, but that politicians also need to take into account the impact of a decision on vulnerable populations, including those without a voice FREE HeartHealth Information Night Dr. Andrew Zawadowski Heart Specialist CORE CARDIOLOGY SERVICES Dr. Ronnie Aronson Diabetes Specialist LMC ENDOCRINOLOGY CENTRES Thursday, March 1st, 2007 @ 7:00 pm Oakville Conference & Banquet Centre 2515 Wyecroft Road at Bronte Road To reserve your seat for this "Ask the Doctor" program, please call: in the political process. "Democratic process entails that we take care of all of our citizens," he said. Khan also created a moment of stunned silence in the council chamber, when he revealed that he is a survivor of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma ­ one illness cited by the Canadian Cancer Society as having a potential link to pesticide use. 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What was it that I inhaled?'" he said. The majority of councillors voting in favour of the bylaw said health concerns of residents should override the convenience of non-essential pesticide use. The bylaw, which will come into effect in 2008, will ban the use of pesticides within the Town's boundaries, except on land used for the commercial production of food, and on golf courses accredited in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques. Use of pesticides will still be allowed to control termites, rodents and other plants or organisms harmful to human health. They will also be permitted as wood preservatives, in swimming pools, tree injections, inside buildings and to purify water. The approved motion calls for the creation of a task force to develop a public education plan, as well to create a strategy to encourage pesticide retailers to cooperate with the bylaw. Although the Town has the right to ban the use of pesticides, it cannot stop retailers from legally selling the products locally. Along with council members, environmentalists and town staff, the proposed task force will include a member who works in the retail sale of pesticide products, as well as a member who works in the lawn care industry in Oakville. Town staff has been given the task of developing an implementation strategy, drawing on the experiences of the other municipalities across Canada that have implemented similar bans. Staff will also report back on how the bylaw might be enforced. A brief staff report to council noted, "It is difficult at this early stage to reliably predict the level of enforcement activity that a pesticide bylaw will generate, and accordingly, the additional resources that will be required." A bylaw amendment will also be drafted to allow for the protection of trees and shrubs, if the town were to be hit with a widespread infestation of a pest like the Gypsy Moth or the Emerald Ash Borer, which have devastated trees elsewhere in Ontario. Knoll noted that council has approved "a broad policy," but that many of the details of implementation and enforcement will be established over the next 10 months. "We need to educate, we need to clarify and we need to implement," he said. Liz Benneian, president of the Oakvillegreen Conservation Association Inc., said she is pleased with the bylaw and believes it has widespread support. "I've said many times that the public is leading on these issues ­ they're far ahead of the politicians," she added.