on

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Poll shows majority favours

ban of pesticides, herbicides

February 18 t h , 2009

Benjamin Shingler

The overwhelming majority of New Brunswickers surveyed in a new poll favour a

province wide ban on cosmetic herbicides and pesticides, results showed Tues-
day .

The Ipsos Reid s urve y shows that 79 per cent of residents polled want a ban 3 of 14.
on the use of chemical compounds that are used for non–essential purposes such
as ridding lawns and gardens of insects and weeds. The poll also shows that 75
per cent of the residents surveyed are in favour of banning the sale of such prod-
ucts.

Proponents of a full ban are calling on the provincial govern-

ment to bring in legislation that reflects the poll results.

" It is clear in this case that the ris k assoc iated

with cosmetic pesticide use far outweigh the bene-
fits," Ellen Snider , senior manager of public issues for the
New Brunswick office of the Canadian Cancer Society.

" They should not be used to simply enhance the ap-

pearance of our lawns and gardens, or parks and
recreational facilit ies."
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Details of the poll results were released at a news conference in Fredericton on

Tuesday. The cancer society commissioned the poll along with the New Brunswick
Lung Association and the Canadian Association of Physicia ns for the
Envi ronme nt.

The poll, which was conducted from Dec. 5 to 9, 2008 , collected the opinions of
438 New Brunswick adults. It is accurate within plus or minus 4.7 per cent 19
times out of 20.

Environment Minister Roland Haché has pledged to unveil the province's pesti-
cide plan during the spring sitting of the legislature, but the details of the plan
aren't yet certain.

One option would be the introduction of a province wide

ban on cosmetic pesticides. Golf course s, as well as the
agricult ural a nd forestry i ndust ries, would likely be 4 of 14.
excluded from such a ban.

Gideon Forman , executive director of the physicians

group, argued that golf courses should also be included in
the ban.

Forman said golf courses do not qualify as an " es-

sential " sector for herbicides or pesticides. While ac-
knowledging the economic importance of golf courses, he
said it's possible to maintain courses through alternative,
non–toxic methods.

" I think we recognize that golf courses have

some special challenges, s o t hey m ay need some
extra time perhaps, but we w ould like to see
them included in t he ban," he said.
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For years, the cancer society has called for bans of pesti-
cides for cosmetic use.

Snider said the evidence linking pesticide use and can-

cer is " suggestive and growing. "

She said children are particularly vulnerable to the

chemicals found in the preparations.

" Their immune systems are still developing,"

she said, adding : " The normal behaviou r of chil -
dren, includ ing playing on lawns and tending to
put things in the ir mouths , put s t hem at even
greater risk."
5 of 14.

Liz Smith , environmental programs co–ordinator of the

New Brunswick Lung Association, urged lawn care
companies to drop the use of herbicides and pesticides
immediately, in preparation for a ban. She said such a
change is what most customers want, according to the
poll results.

Ontario and Quebec are so far the only provinces to insti-

tute a province wide ban on cosmetic pesticides and her-
bicides. Across Canada, more than 100 communities
have banned the use of pesticides. In New Brunswick,
four communities have banned their use : Saint An-
drews, Sackville, Shediac and Caraquet.
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Enough delay,
ban pesticides

February 20 t h , 2009

Moncton Times & Transcript

The public has spoken and it is clear there is overwhelming support in New
Brunswick for a ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides and the provincial gov-
ernment must put such a ban in place before spring and the advent of the
lawn–spraying.

The Ipsos–Reid poll released Monday and commissioned by the Canadian 6 of 14.
Cance r Society, the New Brunswick L ung Association and the Ca nadian
Association of Physicians for t he Enviro nme nt indicates a clear majority
of New Brunswickers support such action and that citizens are well aware of
the dangers of the chemicals and the fact there are safer alternatives. As well,
the poll confirms what the government has already learned via its public con-
sultations into the matter. Of the approximately 1,500 submissions to gov-
ernment, more supported a ban than the three other lesser options combined.
It leaves little doubt what the public wants and what government must do.

The poll found 79 per cent of people support a province–wide ban on non–
essential use of pesticides and almost as many ( 75 per cent ) support a ban
on the sale of the pesticides. Eighty per cent believe (correctly) that cosmetic
pesticides pose potential health risks to humans, while 85 per cent believe
they put pets at risk. Significantly, 72 per cent said they would stop using
cosmetic pesticides if they were shown non–toxic ways to maintain their lawns.
Surely the politicians don't fear controversy, for there will be very little.

No government should ignore such clear expressions of public will. This gov-
ernment has been taking its good old time in acting and is at least a year be-
hind its original schedule, but now it has no excuse. The public verdict is in.
And there are precedents and legislation from other provinces (Ontario and
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Quebec, for example) it can copy and adapt. We are not inventing a new wheel.
This a matter of a clear and present danger to everybody's good health; there is
little for compromise. Lawn care firms may complain, yet they continue to exist
and thrive where such bans exist; they merely need to adopt new methods,
something they have been slow to do voluntarily, despite years of public con-
cern. It is time to force the issue. That includes banning the sale of cosmetic
pesticides to the public, for a ban against use without a ban on the sale would
be futile and self–defeating.

The public has spoken, its will is strong and known, the science supports the
move, and elsewhere affected businesses have managed to adapt. Delay, legis-
lation that is easily circumvented in the name of unnecessary " compromise "
and a lengthy phase–in of the regulations cannot be justified; they only prolong
the serious risk posed to public health. It is time to protect citizens. Nothing
less will do.

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If we could deceive everyone in Ontario, the deception will also work in New Brunswick.

8 of 14.

Met key Ministers or their staff

• In addition to the Minister of Environment, we

met with advisors to the Ministers of Trade, Small
Business, and Economic Development.

• These Ministers had reservations because indus-

try told them the ban would hurt the economy.

We said, “ On the contrary : it will be helpful ”.

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Ban would help

companies

February 23 r d , 2009

Moncton Times Transcript

Kudos on your superb editorial urging a province–wide ban

on lawn pesticide use and sales in New Brunswick. Citi-
zens are indeed supportive of this legislation, with nearl y
eight out of 10 New Brunswickers in favour. 9 of 14.

You mention that lawn care firms thrive in communities

where bans have been implemented and that's exactly
right. For example, in the five years following Halifax's
pesticide prohibition, the number of landscaping compa-
nies in the city grew 53 per cent ▬ from 118 to 180 ▬
according to Statistics Canada. The number of workers in
the sector increased as well.

Going pesticide–free is not only good for human and environmental health. It's
also beneficial for the lawn care industry.

Gideon Forman,
Executive Director,
Canadian Association of Physicia ns
for the Envi ronment,
Toronto, Ont.
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Lies p er p etr a ted b y envir onmenta l opp or tu nis ts :
<< [ ... ] l egisl ation wil l be a boon to our economy ––
boosting business and cre ating green jobs. >>

Disto rted Fact : Prohiting pest cont ro l produ cts

is beneficia l fo r the G reen Space Indust ry.
True Fact: Prohibiting pest cont ro l p ro ducts has
severely ha rmed the G reen Space Indu stry.

10 of 14.
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Lies p er p etr a ted b y envir onmenta l opp or tu nis ts :

<< [ ... ] l egisl ation wil l be a boon to our economy ––
boosting business and cre ating green jobs. >>

Disto rted Fact : Prohiting pest cont ro l produ cts

is beneficia l fo r the G reen Space Indust ry.
True Fact: Prohibiting pest cont ro l p ro ducts has
severely ha rmed the G reen Space Indu stry.

11 of 14.
 Part 2. Remastered.
07/07/2009

Lies p er p etr a ted b y envir onmenta l opp or tu nis ts :

<< [ ... ] l egisl ation wil l be a boon to our economy ––
boosting business and cre ating green jobs. >>

Disto rted Fact : Prohiting pest cont ro l produ cts

is beneficia l fo r the G reen Space Indust ry.
True Fact: Prohibiting pest cont ro l p ro ducts has
severely ha rmed the G reen Space Indu stry.

12 of 14.
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13 of 14.
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FORCE OF NATURE was launched for continuous transmission on the Internet on January 1st,
2009. It is a series of e–newsletters destined for the Green Space Industry, the environmental
movement, politicians, municipalities, and the media, nation–wide across Canada, and parts
of the United States. Force of Nature is produced in two parts. First. The Media Report itself
that reports on the current events affecting the future of the Green Space Industry. Second. In-
dependent Perspective, which is a running commentary, sometimes also of a more technical in
nature.

Force of Nature is the brainchild of William H. Gathercole and his entourage. The opinions
expressed in these e–newsletters, even though from an independent perspective, may not reflect
those of everyone in the Green Space Industry, or Mr. Gathercole’s many associates. Be warned
! Mr. Gathercole and his team may sometimes be very irreverent and fearless with these e–
newsletters.
William H. Gathercole holds a degree in Horticulture from the University of Guelph, and an-
other pure and applied science degree from McGill University. He has worked in virtually all
aspects of the Green Space Industry, including public affairs, personal safety, and environ-
mental issues. Mr. Gathercole has been a consultant and instructor for decades. Mr.
Gathercole has been following the evolution of environmental terrorism for over a quarter–
century. His involvement in environmental issues reached a fevered pitch in the 1990s,
when he orchestrated, with others, legal action against unethical and excessive municipal
regulations restricting the use of pest control products. ( i.e. the Town of Hudson. ) Al-
though he can be accused of being anti–environment–movement, he is, in fact, simply a strong
advocate for the Green Space Industry. However, this position has not precluded him from criti-
cizing the industry itself. Nonetheless, his vast knowledge of our long journey with envi- 14 of 14.
ronmental issues is undeniable. ( Hopefully ! ) For many years, Mr. Gathercole has been a
contributing columnist for TURF & Recreation Magazine, Canada’s Turf and Grounds Main-
tenance Authority.
All pictures contained in Force of Nature were found somewhere on the Internet. We believe
that they are in the public domain, as either educational tools, industry archives, promo-
tional stills, publicity photos, or press media stock.
Information presented in Force of Nature has been developed for the education and enter-
tainment of the reader. The events, characters, companies, and organizations, depicted in
this document are not always fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead,
may not be coincidental.
The following titles are currently available. (Or, will be available in the near future.) ● Al-
berta Prohibition ● British Columbia Prohibition ● Canadian Association of Physicians
for the Environment ● Consequences ● David Suzuki Foundation ● Death and the En-
vironmental Movement ● Golf and Landscape Trade Industries ● June Irwin, The Prin-
cess of Junk Science ● Kazimiera Jean Cottam ● Kelowna BC Prohibition ● New
Brunswick Prohibition ● Nova Scotia Prohibition ● Ontario Prohibition ● Organic Fertil-
izers ● Pets and Lawn Care Chemicals ● Prince Edward Island Prohibition ● Quebec
Prohibition ● Rachel Carson, The Queen of Junk Science ● Randy Hillier, The Next Pre-
mier of Ontario ● Salmon Arm BC Prohibition ● The 9/11 Era of the Green Space Indus-
try ● The Failure of Integrated Pest Management ● The Industry Strikes Back ● The
Misconceptions About Cancer ● The Wisdom of the Solomons ● Wisconsin Fertilizer Pro-
hibition ● ASK FOR A COPY OF ANY BACK ISSUE OF FORCE OF N ATURE TODAY.