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4- The Oakville Beaver, Friday July 6, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Council irons out the bugs in pesticide bylaw By Kim Arnott SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Not familiar with corn gluten meal, diatomaceous earth or horticultural oil? Give it a few months, and those terms will likely become more familiar to Oakville homeowners, as the Town rolls out an anti-pesticide education program. The $23,000 program, which will include direct mail pieces, mall displays and general advertising, aims to bring residents up-to-speed on organic lawn and garden care prior to January 1, 2008, when a virtual town-wide ban on pesticide use comes into effect. In February, Oakville coun- CREATE YOUR OWN MASTERPIECE "MASONRY & FIREPLACE DESIGN SPECIALISTS" w w w. c o b b l e s t o n e m b e r s . c a 406 SPEERS RD., OAKVILLE ACROSS FROM RONA LANSING 905.337.2066 cillors approved a bylaw limiting the use of pesticides within Town boundaries to land used for the commercial production of food, and on golf courses accredited in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques. Individual homeowners will be allowed to use pesticides to control termites, rodents, or other plants or organisms harmful to human health. Pesticides will also be permitted as wood preservatives, in swimming pools, tree injections, inside buildings and to purify water. On Tuesday night, Council approved an implementation strategy that outlines how the Town will communicate the new restrictions to homeowners, lawn care companies and retailers selling pesticide products. Council also agreed to hire a new bylaw enforcement officer to respond to complaints about violations of the pesticide ban. Fines for residents violating the bylaw will range from $250 to $5,000 for a first offence, and up to $10,000 for a subsequent offence. Corporations violating the What can you put on your lawn to fight pests? When the town's new pesticide bylaw takes effect in 2008, new restrictions will be placed on the use of chemicals for lawn and garden care. Banned · Herbicides (synthetic chemicals designed to kill plants or weeds) · Insecticides (synthetic chemicals designed to kill animals or bugs) · Fertilizer/weed killer combinations, such as Weed and Feed. Not banned · Insect repellent applied to your person · Soap · Mineral oil (also called dormant, or horticultural oil) · Silicon dioxide (also called diatomaceous earth) · Biological pesticides, including Bacillus have allowed residents to use pesticides to deal with infestations. Although the clause defined an infestation as "the presence of pests in numbers or under conditions which involve an immediate or potential risk of substantial loss or damage to property," Knoll argued that the exemption was too broad. "It would open up a loophole about as wide as the Town of Oakville itself," said Knoll. He suggested some people would use the clause as a way to skirt the bylaw, by deciding thuringiensis and nematodes · Borax (also called boric acid or boracic acid) · Ferric phosphate · Acetic acid · Pyrethrum or pyrethrins · Fatty acids · Sulphur · Corn gluten meal. that their lawn was infested with dandelions, clover or crab grass. He added that a substantial bureaucracy would have to be established to inspect and provide permits for cases of infestation, were the Town to attempt to police the clause. Knoll noted that in the case of a serious and widespread infestation of a pest such as the Gypsy Moth or Emerald Ash Borer, which have devastated trees elsewhere, Council could quickly approve an amendment to the bylaw to allow the necessary pesticide use. bylaw can be fined up to $50,000 for a first offence and up to $100,000 for subsequent offences. Ward 5 councillor Jeff Knoll, who has pushed for pesticide control during his three terms on Town Council, noted that the defining principle of the bylaw is "to put human health and safety ahead of aesthetically-pleasing lawns and gardens." He convinced his fellow councillors not to incorporate a staff-recommended exemption into the bylaw that would Huge Sale Anniversary All ear ensw M ff All ans e nim J De f ise WIL LUE Merchand B n Seaso New f tion o Selec A LI'S Every Item On Sale! /2 o 1 rice Reg. P 1 /2 oef ric Reg. P 75 All PAS Fashionwear % This Gorgeous Outdoor... fireplace by Ontario Hearth will be featured in an upcoming episode of on HGTV Mon., July 9th at 9:00pm. Call us to find out how we can enhance your outdoor space with · Custom Stone Mantels an Ontario Hearth fireplace. · Licensed Gas Fitters Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10-5, Sat. 10-4 3585 Laird Rd., Unit 2 off Reg. Price 1 2 oeff / ric Reg. P Prize Contest Ends Saturday July 7th @ 12:00pm All Prizes Awarded at 12:30pm 166 LAKESHORE ROAD EAST OAKVILLE Sales Terms: ALL SALES FINAL Prices good thru: 07/12/2007 Store Hours: Mon.-Wed. 10am-6pm Thurs.-Fri. 10am-8pm Sat. 10am-6pm Sun. 12noon-5pm 905.569.2404 www.ontariohearth.com