Pesticide ban coming in Canada

WINNIPEG – Manitoba's conservation minister has all but confirmed there will be a ban on lawn pesticides to control dandelions and other weeds, although the extent of the prohibition is still being worked out.

"There are studies looking at the health and environmental impacts of cosmetic pesticide use, and the science appears to indicate that there is a risk," Gord Mackintosh said Monday.

"We also know that most Canadians do have different precautions across the country in place and ... the obvious question is shouldn't Manitoba children have the same benefits that most other Canadian children do enjoy?"

The NDP government released a discussion paper last spring which pointed out that all other provinces except Saskatchewan and British Columbia have restrictions on lawn chemicals to control weeds. The government has invited public comment until next month and is expected to make a decision sometime next year.

An industry lobby group says lawn chemicals are approved and regulated by the federal government.

"Pesticides receive a greater breadth of scrutiny than any other regulated products and only those products that meet Health Canada's strict health and safety standards are registered for sale and use," reads a response to the proposed Manitoba ban posted earlier this year by CropLife on its website.

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