The Canadian summer. Traffic flooding out of cities for weekend getaways and vacation haunts. And in town, sprouting like tulips heralding the end of winter, lawn chemical warning signs.
Despite warnings from medical associations about the adverse effects on the health of children, environmental concerns about the danger to wildlife and groundwater, and a 2000 House of Commons committee report that recommended phasing out the use of “cosmetic” pesticides, the spraying of lawns remains a ritual adhered to by millions of Canadian property owners.
With a large block of voters addicted to spraying, and lawn maintenance firms lobbying about the job losses a pesticide ban would entail, there’s been a remarkable lack of provincial and federal government action to protect public health and the environment. It has been left to municipalities to take on the issue.
Hudson, Que., was the first place to ban chemicals in 1991, winning a recent Supreme Court decision acknowledging its right to do so. A few brave cities, including Halifax and Toronto, have recently followed Hudson’s trailblazing lead. Many more municipalities have ended their own spraying of chemicals on public property, parks and school grounds. But progress is slow.
It’s been rather cowardly of the legislators in Canadian capitals who’ve left it to local politicians to grapple with the issue. Perhaps business can help.
What Canadians need are some role models. And what better example is there than a corporate rejection of cosmetic lawn spraying on business premises. It’s sure to catch the attention of neighbours and employees alike.
Employers can ask their maintenance firms or landlords to end the use of lawn chemicals. There are environmentally friendly alternatives. And developing a tolerance for weeds and lawn imperfection would also be healthy.
Companies can erect a “chemical-free” sign in front of the building, showing the organization is environmentally conscientious and community-minded. What’s more all the recognition comes without any financial outlay.
There’s no need to wait for your municipality to struggle to pass a law. Companies can set a healthy example and act on their own. If it makes sense to protect the health of workers by encouraging healthy lifestyles, doesn’t it also make sense to protect their communities from unneeded cosmetic lawn pesticides?
And then we can do something about leaf blowers.
Despite warnings from medical associations about the adverse effects on the health of children, environmental concerns about the danger to wildlife and groundwater, and a 2000 House of Commons committee report that recommended phasing out the use of “cosmetic” pesticides, the spraying of lawns remains a ritual adhered to by millions of Canadian property owners.
With a large block of voters addicted to spraying, and lawn maintenance firms lobbying about the job losses a pesticide ban would entail, there’s been a remarkable lack of provincial and federal government action to protect public health and the environment. It has been left to municipalities to take on the issue.
Hudson, Que., was the first place to ban chemicals in 1991, winning a recent Supreme Court decision acknowledging its right to do so. A few brave cities, including Halifax and Toronto, have recently followed Hudson’s trailblazing lead. Many more municipalities have ended their own spraying of chemicals on public property, parks and school grounds. But progress is slow.
It’s been rather cowardly of the legislators in Canadian capitals who’ve left it to local politicians to grapple with the issue. Perhaps business can help.
What Canadians need are some role models. And what better example is there than a corporate rejection of cosmetic lawn spraying on business premises. It’s sure to catch the attention of neighbours and employees alike.
Employers can ask their maintenance firms or landlords to end the use of lawn chemicals. There are environmentally friendly alternatives. And developing a tolerance for weeds and lawn imperfection would also be healthy.
Companies can erect a “chemical-free” sign in front of the building, showing the organization is environmentally conscientious and community-minded. What’s more all the recognition comes without any financial outlay.
There’s no need to wait for your municipality to struggle to pass a law. Companies can set a healthy example and act on their own. If it makes sense to protect the health of workers by encouraging healthy lifestyles, doesn’t it also make sense to protect their communities from unneeded cosmetic lawn pesticides?
And then we can do something about leaf blowers.
