Montreal to Adopt Pesticide Ban

The Montreal City Council is set to adopt a proposal to ban the use of pesticides outdoors except in certain circumstances – such as infestations, when citizens would have to apply for a special permit to apply chemicals.

Permits also would have to be obtained to use pesticides on golf courses and bowling greens, and a five-meter buffer would have to be established around those areas. Golf course and bowling green operators would also have to submit plans to the city on how they plan to reduce their use of pesticides.
Mineral oils, insecticidal soaps and biopesticides also would be permitted under the proposed city law.

The Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (CAP)congratulated the Executive Committee of Montreal for its approval last week of the proposal, which will now move to the full City Council for adoption.

Alan DeSousa, executive committee member responsible for sustainable development, has said that if all goes according to plan, the bylaw will take affect in April 2005, though local municipalities on Montreal Island would be able to bring the rules into force this year.