By Gavin Dawson,
chair, LO Lawn Care group
The long awaited announcement of Ontario Regulation 63/09 came in early March to Landscape Ontario’s lawn care group members. This new regulation is made under the Pesticides Act, as amended by the Cosmetic Pesticide Ban Act which passed in June, 2008. The announcement included word that the regulations take effect on April 22, 2009. Despite the fact the regulations were very similar to what was proposed and released on the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) for public comment in November, 2008, the announcement was met with feelings of anger, dismay, frustration and apprehension by lawn care members.
Although many of us suspected we would see the final regulations almost exactly as was proposed on the EBR, the sheer lack of concern, regard and sensitivity displayed by the Ministry of Environment was shocking to many. At a time of economic disintegration, not seen in generations, our government has chosen to push through an extreme regulation that directly targets our industry. The frustration and dismay is largely the result of two failures by this government in the release of these regulations.
Firstly, there has been no apparent work done by the Ministry of Environment, or any other provincial government body, to analyze or even consider the impact such a drastic regulatory change will have on the 20,000 jobs and $1.26 billion contributed annually to the Ontario economy by lawn care companies. Full implementation of these regulations mere weeks after they are finalized and released only serves to further our dismay and speaks to the disregard displayed by this government. One would have thought, particularly given our current economy, the Ontario government would respect the precautionary principle in all of its actions.
Secondly, in forming a regulation that a science-based industry must serve, it is stunning to see the sheer lack of science and research employed in its creation. Despite repeated and direct requests for clarification, it is still unknown what the Ministry of Environment refers by its published statement, “There are no exceptions for pest infestations…on lawns…to which the ban applies, as lower risk alternatives currently exists.” A simple direct question, “What are they?” has gone unanswered.
We will remain professional
Despite all of this, there is little doubt for those involved in Landscape Ontario’s lawn care group that we will remain vigilant in our professionalism. We have, and will continue, to offer our science-based expertise to this and future governments. There is equally little doubt that the public will continue to demand healthy sustained green spaces around which we all live, work and play. This includes healthy, vibrant turfgrass. It has, and will always be, our responsibility to deliver this, whatever the challenges. However, our responsibility extends beyond the application of products to a lawn or landscape. We must educate, communicate and build relationships with our customers, our employees, the public and our government. We must build our knowledge to foster innovation and we must sell our knowledge to build value in our services. This should be the focus of our efforts and energy going forward.
New fact sheets have been posted on the ministry’s website for the licensed exterminators (landscape class) and the three types of vendors (unlicensed, limited and general).
Visit the following website to view the fact sheets:
www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/land/pesticides/factsheets/fs-commericaloperators.pdf
www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/land/pesticides/factsheets/fs-generalvendors.pdf
www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/land/pesticides/factsheets/fs-limitedvendors.pdf
www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/land/pesticides/factsheets/fs-unlicensedvendors.pdf
