The Canadian Cancer Society is committed to supporting healthy policies that reduce the public’s exposure to potentially cancer-causing substances.

We support bans on cosmetic pesticides, those used to enhance the appearance of lawns, gardens, parks and recreational facilities, due to a suggestive and growing body of research, and because effective alternatives exist. Pesticides used for cosmetic purposes have no health benefit, and the potential to cause harm and so it is better to be safe than sorry.

Our best estimate of the implementation cost of a pesticide-control bylaw is 50 cents to $1 per person per year, decreasing over time. This comes from a best practices review prepared by the Canadian Centre for Pollution Prevention and Cullbridge Marketing and Communications in 2004. This review found that a bylaw in concert with education showed 51-90 per cent reductions in pesticide use whereas education alone only showed 10-24 per cent reductions.

Of the 150-plus cities across Canada with pesticide-control bylaws, many large municipalities in Canada have adopted them, including Vancouver and Toronto. Halifax Regional Municipality was able to reduce pesticide use by 51-70 per cent within the first year of implementing a bylaw and education program.

We look forward to continuing to support the City of Surrey and the Corporation of Delta to take leadership on this issue in the Fraser Valley as the City of White Rock has done.

We know that babies and young children are at greater risk from the effects of pesticides, due to their underdeveloped immune systems and common behaviour such as playing on grass, and putting plants or hands in their mouths. We need to change the way we think about our lawns gardens and parks.

For more information on alternatives to pesticide use visit: www.cancer.ca or www.toronto.ca/pesticides

Brita Colero

Community Action Coordinator

Canadian Cancer Society,

Fraser Valley West