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Haligonians, particularly those living in District 1, may find the
following email from Councillor Stephen Streatch to be of interest.
Does anyone know what his connection is to Alan Streatch and Kenneth
Streatch of Turf Masters Lawn Care? Is this a conflict that should prevent
Councillor Streatch from voting on this issue?
To write to YOUR councillor, go to:
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/RATE/Email_Councillors.html
More councillors addresses below.
Without further ado:
Stephen Streatch wrote:
Dear Mr. Falvo,
Thank-you for your recent E-mail regarding the proposed pesticide by-law
currently before Council. Being the educated man that I'm sure you are,
you must realize that a total ban on pesticides or anything else in our
municipality and indeed our society has greater repercussions and much
further reaching implications than just corporate profits. I would think
that someone in the legal profession, of all people, should know this. To
me this is the "no-brainer".
As the draft proposed by-law currently reads, the use of all pesticides
within a 100 meter radius of an effected persons residence could be
totally banned (in the city this could include 100 homes at a time). As
I'm sure you know, pesticides include herbicides, fungicides,
rodentcides,insecticides and others. Think for a moment what this could
mean. Banning flea collars for pets, rat poison could be included, no more
spraying "Raid" on flys or spiders and even the moulds that a lot of
people complain about. .... fungicides are used to control them. An
outbreak of lice in the schools, for example, could not be treated as it
would be now with products such as "Nix", this is an insecticide, and I
hope you don't have an infestation of termites or ants at your house, they
are very hard to catch one at a time.
What would happen to our Municipal parkland and green spaces, without the
ability to spray, what would the implications be if we had an infestation
of chinch bugs or flea weevils, or any one of the many potentially
destructive pests that could easily destroy our majestic trees or our
green playing fields. Think of the many recreational facilities,golf
courses and playing fields in HRM, one only has to look at the disastrous
effects similar bans have had on courses in Ontario.
And what about the folks that like to do a little back-yard gardening, try
growing potatoes without dusting for potato bugs or strawberries and
turnips and not to mention flower gardens and rose bushes. As I mentioned
earlier, greater implications than just profits. Responsible pesticide
usage is part of our reality.
Although, at present, our ability to carve out some juristiction dealing
with pesticides does not include private recreational
facilities,aquaculture or agricultural usage, there is grave concern
within these sectors that once you let this group get it's foot in the
door it will be much easier for them to be included as well. They are
worried that because HRM is the only Municipality in N.S. to have been
given the power to implement such a by-law and knowing the clout that we
carry among our municipal peers,this could become precedent setting and
potentially disastrous to their way of life and their ability to grow
crops and food to meet the demand our modern, growing population and
society puts on them.
In closing I want you to know that I am very sympathetic with the plight
of the folks who are truly effected by the use of certain chemicals, but
is it right for the onus to be put on the masses for the responsibility
relating to their problems?.... I think not.
I have 5 small children and I wouldn't spray my own lawn for cosmetic
purposes, not only because of the unknown, but because I don't feel it's
necessary there is really nothing wrong with a few weeds or some
buttercups, and I take pleasure when one of my children brings in a
4-leafed clover to show me, but in the same breath I wouldn't stop my
neighbour from doing as he would with his lawn and I think it is wrong for
us to arbitrarily tell other people what they can and can't do on their
own property. Although I do feel that they should have to hire
professionals for their pesticide needs and not be able to buy over the
counter products and apply those themselves.
The professionals of whom I speak are trained and licensed by the province
of N.S. and for the most part know what they are doing, those that don't
should be stopped and their licenses revoked. This is a provincial issue
and not a Municipal responsibility.
For these reasons and others I will be asking Council not to pass a by-law
respecting pesticide use, and to deliver this back to the provincial
government where it belongs. Failing this, I will work to have the word
"banned" removed from the by-law and replace it with words and terms such
as, advance notice, posting notice, education, and last but not least, the
term that seems to be lacking the most...common sense.
Yours truly,
Steve Streatch
Councillor District 1
<streats@region.halifax.ns.ca>
> When are we going to get our pesticide bylaw?
>
> Health of citizens versus profits for chemical companies.
>
> Looks like a no-brainer to me.
>
> What is your stand on this issue?
>
> Sincerely,
> Paul Falvo
> Barrister & Solicitor
<adamss@region.halifax.ns.ca>, <blumenj@region.halifax.ns.ca>,
<colwelk@region.halifax.ns.ca>, <cooperr@region.halifax.ns.ca>,
<cunninj@region.halifax.ns.ca>, <downeyg@region.halifax.ns.ca>,
<fitzgew@region.halifax.ns.ca>, <fougers@region.halifax.ns.ca>,
<greenoj@region.halifax.ns.ca>, <harveyb@region.halifax.ns.ca>,
<hetherb@region.halifax.ns.ca>, "Claude Isaacs" <isaacsc@region.halifax.ns.ca>,
<kellyp@region.halifax.ns.ca>, <merrigd@region.halifax.ns.ca>,
<mitchej@region.halifax.ns.ca>, <rankinr@region.halifax.ns.ca>,
<sartoc@region.halifax.ns.ca>, <schofic@region.halifax.ns.ca>,
<snowg@region.halifax.ns.ca>, <stoneb@region.halifax.ns.ca>,
<streats@region.halifax.ns.ca>, <utecks@region.halifax.ns.ca>,
<walkerr@region.halifax.ns.ca>
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