17°c Overcast
10°c Light rain
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Cosmetic pesticides could be banned next year: Mackintosh
Some pesticides target dandelions. (JOE BRYKSA / FREE PRESS ARCHIVES)
Manitoba could see a ban on cosmetic pesticides next year, Conservation Minister Gord Mackintosh said today.
Such a ban, to be phased in, would see chemicals like WeedEx and Roundup outlawed in the province.
Mackintosh made his comments following a presentation of a letter this morning by health and environment groups calling on the Manitoba government to ban the sale and use of cosmetic pesticides. More than 1,000 people have also shown support for the ban either by signing letters or by adding their names to an online petition.
The province said in January it would soon join most other Canadian provinces and ban cosmetic pesticides -- sprays that keep lawns perfect by killing weeds like dandelions and bugs.
A ban would not apply to farms, but only lawns and other public green spaces. It also would not apply to pesticides used for health issues such as mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus or dangerous plants such as poison ivy.
Manitoba is one of only four provinces left that hasn't created some kind of ban on cosmetic pesticides. Nova Scotia and Ontario have relatively new bans that are considered the toughest.
The province is currently accepting feedback on the proposed ban. The deadline is Oct. 1 http://www.gov.mb.ca//conservation/envprograms/pdf/june_20_pesticides_release.pdf
Mackintosh said his department is looking at what is done in other provinces and municipalities.
Local lawn-care companies have said a cosmetic-pesticide ban is little more than politics.
Organic pesticides are available — some stores have already taken toxic chemicals off their shelves — but critics argue they tend to cost more and are not as effective.
Cities can ban the use of pesticides but only the province can ban the sale, a more effective method of reducing pesticide use. Brandon has a bylaw restricting cosmetic-pesticide use near schools, daycares and parks. Winnipeg's bylaw only requires lawn-care companies to post warning signs when they apply chemicals.
Fact Check
Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 33 articles for today)
City hall working despite Toronto mayor's 'crack cocaine' scandal, deputy says
12:02 PM 0View Related
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- Drug dealer sentenced to 3½ years in prison
- Bridge collapse survivor who fell in river: 'You hold on as tight as you can'
- Ottawa threatens 'retaliatory measures' over new U.S. meat labelling regulations
- Abrupt departure for Mayor Rob Ford's chief of staff amid 'crack video' scandal
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- 'I told them, "I think that guy downstairs is dead"': teen witness at murder trial
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Winnipeg woman camps out in front of legislature to protest child welfare
- 2 dead in crash near Portage la Prairie
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- Rainfall warning issued for southern Manitoba
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Susan Griffiths dies in Switzerland
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Lake St. Martin reserve close to getting new home
- 'I told them, "I think that guy downstairs is dead"': teen witness at murder trial
- Jockey club launches $350-M civil suit against province
- MTS to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group, focus on Manitoba market
- Fire crews kept busy battling south Winnipeg, Point Douglas fires
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- New owner for lumber stores
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Skin picking gets status as distinct disorder, should help sufferers access help
- Order of Manitoba recipients announced
- New owner for lumber stores
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.