Toronto Pesticide Battle Makes Contractors into Activists

Although a pesticide-sensitive bylaw recently passed in Toronto, Canada, appears to be threatening long-term harm to the green industry, the legislative ordeal is lined with a spark of optimism.

That spark is the newfound motivation many lawn care operators, specifically those in and around Toronto, have demonstrated in their fight for continued freedom from government-imposed bans of their lawn treatments.

As part of their plan of attack, several lawn care operators took to the streets, gathering signatures on petitions and getting the word out about the proposed ban of “cosmetic” pesticide use. Contractors resorted to grass roots lobbying, even picketing outside Toronto City Hall with signs displaying pro-pesticide messages. Industry professionals also attended City Council meetings, where they expressed bold opinions regarding the proposed legislation, explained Tom Delaney, vice president of government affairs, Professional Lawn Care Association of America.

“This is an excellent example of the industry using environmental activist techniques to express their opinions,” Delaney observed, referring to the tireless efforts in and around Toronto.

Lawn care operators also put their marketing skills to a new use, with auto-dial telephones getting the word out to customers through recorded messages.

“They started mobilizing customers to call the city,” Delaney observed. “And those customers took action. They called to say, ‘Stop wasting taxpayer dollars. We’re opposed to this bylaw.’”

And while the May 23rd passage of a pesticide-sensitive bylaw may indicate that the industry’s efforts went unnoticed, the opposite is true. In fact, advocates of the ban actually agreed to a “compromise bylaw” before the issue could be taken to a vote – because they felt the risk of losing was too ambiguous. The lobbying efforts of lawn care operators had added too much uncertainty to the issue.

Now, weeks after the “compromise” was reached, industry professionals in Toronto are trying to jump back into business. But that optimistic spark continues to motivate them in the ongoing battle against the evolving pesticide ban.

The author is Assistant Editor-Internet of Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at aanderson@lawnandlandscape.com.