City, town pesticide bylaws take effect

The City of Toronto’s new IPM bylaw has been in effect since April 1, and there has been confusion about what the bylaw means and how lawn care operators and homeowners will operate within the parameters of the bylaw.

Unfortunately, this confusion will continue until city council meets in late May to decide on exemptions, and whether weeds will be part of the action thresholds on home lawns. Even then, threshold values are not likely to be determined for several months.

Enforcement will not commence until September 2005, which will provide a window of adjustment for homeowners and service firms. Should a situation arise that requires control measures with a non-exempt product, it is advisable to document where an infestation took place on the customer’s property.
Landscape Ontario will post a list of IPM Accredited companies on its consumer web site (www.landscapeontario.com).

CropLife Canada’s legal challenge continues. The appeal will most likely be heard sometime this summer.

The bylaw in Caledon takes effect May 1, and is considerably different than the City of Toronto’s bylaw. View the bylaw on the town’s web site at www.town.caledon.on.ca.

Only companies accredited by the IPM/PHC Council of Canada will be allowed to make pesticide treatments on lawns within town limits; accredited companies can register with the Town by filling out the “Public Information Record of IPM Accredited Applicators operating in the Town of Caledon” form. See the link below.

Bylaws in the towns of Perth and Thorold will take effect shortly. Both ban herbicide use, and require permits to controlinsect infestations.

The phenoxy herbicide re-evaluations are expected to be complete by mid-summer.Let’s cross our fingers, toes and anything else you can that this will happen.

• Town of Caledon Public Information Record
  Click here for a copy of the form that IPM accredited companies must fill out.