PESTICIDE BY-LAW in the NEWS, 2004

Wed Apr 28, 2004 The Daily News

Under Council Notes, the Daily News had an item titled PESTICIDE PERMITS in which it was reported that on Tuesday, April 27, The Ecology Action Centre was awarded a $71,791 tender to issue spray permits under the city's pesticide bylaw. "The centre will act as a qualified independent third party who will address where and when pesticide applications should be approved."

Thursday, April 29, 2004 in The Halifax Herald

An article by Amy Pugsley was published on the front page under the title

Pesticide permit deal bugs landscaper
Green group gatekeeper of bylaw

Glenn Puddister of Jade Lawn Care and Landscaping was quoted as commenting about the awarding of the spray permit tended to Ecology Action Centre (above) that "They're not going to issue a permit unless the chinch bug are absolutely lifting the lawn off and carrying it down the road." The article also quoted Gregor MacAskill, this year's program director (at Ecology Action Centre) for the city's pesticide bylaw, as saying that he had worked with the landscaping industry for ten years, and that he kenw them well and they knew him well and that he was hoping for a good working relationship.

Wednesday, June 2, 2004 Letter in the Halifax Herald

Aaron Cameron, a worker in the lawn-care industry commented that "I have to admit, as an organic skeptic, that I am enjoying the changeover from synthetic products to organic products." He went on to express concern over misuse of herbicides, in particular overapplication; he contended that as residents are not able to contract landscapers to do the job, they are doing it themselves and think that 'more is better'. He suggests misuse is partly the homeowner's fault for choosing to use banned products. However, he says the politicians should take most of the blame because the bylaw still allows stores to sell the products. "You can go into the store, read the list of banned products, and then take those products off the shelf and purchase them. Does this make sense to anyone?"