Promises, Promises- More McGuinty Promises

The Ontario Environment Minister in the McGuinty Liberal govermnment said on November 26, 2008 that his government has been adamant that they were going to implement the Cosmetic Pesticide by the growing season of 2009.

Hon. John Gerretsen: Well-and I appreciate the question-we have been very adamant on the whole pesticide situation that we were going to implement the new rules and regulations by the growing season of 2009. We have said that right from the very beginning, and we intend to do

Yet the governments EBR when comments were first requested on January 18, 2008 clearly states under "Timing" that there would be a phased in implementation of (e.g. 3 years).
Looks like another McGuinty promise.

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Ontario's Hansard
Session: 39:1 Date: 20081126
View full text - size 348795 bytes
Partial text with relevant conversations are copied below.

PESTICIDES

Mr. John Yakabuski: My question is for the Minister of the Environment. During the debate on Bill 64, the pesticide ban, you assured cemeteries that they would be exempt. We now find that you have broken your promise, but given your track record, nobody is surprised.
You further committed to comprehensive consultations with lawn care professionals to implement regulations in a sensible way, with a realistic timetable. You have gone back on your word to them as well.
If your government understood business at all, you would recognize that your regulations leave them no room and no time to plan or prepare for the 2009 growing season. Why can't you people keep your word?

Hon. John Gerretsen: Well-and I appreciate the question-we have been very adamant on the whole pesticide situation that we were going to implement the new rules and regulations by the growing season of 2009. We have said that right from the very beginning, and we intend to do that.
But, as the member also knows, the final regulations are on the EBR right now. We're looking for comments from individuals. We've met with the same organizations that he has obviously met with within the last day or so. We are still reviewing the situation, and we'll be making a final determination shortly.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary.

Mr. John Yakabuski: Those regulations will be finalized in March, and that doesn't give anybody enough time.
Your regulations will, further, create the very strange situation of allowing individuals the right to apply class 7 pesticides, such as Grub Eliminator, but not allow professionals to do the same.
Many people, including seniors and the disabled, rely on professionals to take care of their properties-professionals who are trained to deal with the products in the safest possible manner, including not requiring the homeowner to deal with the storage or disposal of unused product.
Will you commit to correcting this blatant inconsistency immediately?

Hon. John Gerretsen: We know where this government stands on this particular issue. We want to protect children in the best way we know possible as far as banning the cosmetic use of pesticides is concerned.
We also realize that there are certain products that under certain circumstances could be used for purposes other than-
Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): The member from Renfrew, you just asked the question. I would ask that you be respectful and listen to the answer.

Hon. John Gerretsen: As he well knows, there are certain products that can be used for different purposes. For those purposes, particularly when we're talking about indoor purposes, there will be a use of restricted products on that list that will be sold to individuals on an individual basis for those specific purposes.
We intend to bring in the best possible law, as we have done, and the best possible rules and regulations to make sure that the children of this province are-

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you, Minister.


I guess this is the naked truth about politics. Glad I'm in the lawn care business.
www.turf-king.ca

Get serious about the science! We’re all safer with science-based regulations

Get serious about the science!
We’re all safer with science-based regulations

Crop life has posted an easy to use "send to the Premier" letter on their website. http://www.croplife.ca/web/mailmp/
You can send a letter to your MPP as well. Here's what they say--

Canadians expect the laws governing the products they find on stores shelves to be based on sound scientific principles. Ontario’s draft regulations to ban the sale and use of some pesticides are seriously flawed because they are lacking in scientific criteria.

What does that mean? why a specific product can – or cannot - be used or sold in Ontario has not been spelled out what criteria are required for new products has not been defined, which makes it very difficult for companies to develop new solutions to pest problems home landscapes – grass, trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetable gardens – appear to be defined as cosmetic and not worthy of protection this government is closing the door on new product innovation in Ontario

We are asking the Government of Ontario go back to the drawing board and define the scientific criteria it will use to assess current products and future innovations so that homeowners and professionals will have access to the safest and most effective tools to manage legitimate pest problems.

Your voice counts!

Make sure the McGuinty government knows scientific criteria must be the cornerstone of these regulations.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Send in the letter below online to Premier McGuinty and Minister Garretson. It is easy. Just complete the attached fields and push send.
   
   
2. Contact your Member of Provincial Parliament. Email, phone numbers and office addresses can be found at: http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_current.do?locale=en
   
   
3. Let department officials know what you think, too, by submitting comments through the Environmental Bill of Rights
   (The comment period ends December 22, 2008!)
   http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTA0OTk2&statusId=MTU3MjYz&language=en
   
   

Write the Premier and express your concerns.
Dear Premier McGuinty, Ontario’s draft regulations to ban the sale and use of some pesticides are seriously flawed. Like most Canadians, I expect the laws governing the products I can use to be based on sound scientific criteria. Since these draft regulations fail to provide any such criteria I ask that you develop scientific criteria and resume consultations once there is criteria to review. Ontarians need to know: why a specific product can – or cannot - be used or sold in Ontario what criteria are desirable in new products so that companies can develop new solutions to common pest problems why our home landscapes – grass, trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetable gardens – are defined as cosmetic and not worthy of protection how this government plans to keep the door for new product innovation in Ontario open We are all safer with science-based regulations. Premier McGuinty, please get serious about the science! Go back to the drawing board and define the scientific criteria your government will use to assess current products and future innovations so that Ontarians will have access to the safest and most effective tools to manage legitimate pest problems. Sincerely,
Complete the remaining fields and SEND
To: CC: Click to see list for your MPP Aggelonitis, Sophia Albanese, Laura Arnott, Ted Arthurs, Wayne Bailey, Robert Balkissoon, Bas Barrett, Toby Bartolucci, Hon Rick Bentley, Hon Christopher Berardinetti, Lorenzo Best, Hon Margarett R. Bisson, Gilles Bradley, Hon James J. Broten, Laurel C. Brown, Michael A. Brownell, Jim Bryant, Hon Michael Cansfield, Hon Donna H. Caplan, Hon David Carroll, Hon M. Aileen Chan, Hon Michael Chudleigh, Ted Colle, Mike Craitor, Kim Crozier, Bruce Delaney, Bob Dhillon, Vic DiNovo, Cheri Dickson, Joe Dombrowsky, Hon Leona Duguid, Hon Brad Duncan, Hon Dwight Dunlop, Garfield Elliott, Christine Flynn, Kevin Daniel Fonseca, Hon Peter Gerretsen, Hon John Gravelle, Hon Michael Gélinas, France Hampton, Howard Hardeman, Ernie Hillier, Randy Horwath, Andrea Hoy, Pat Hudak, Tim Jaczek, Helena Jeffrey, Linda Jones, Sylvia Klees, Frank Kormos, Peter Kular, Kuldip Kwinter, Monte Lalonde, Jean-Marc Leal, Jeff Levac, Dave MacLeod, Lisa Mangat, Amrit Marchese, Rosario Martiniuk, Gerry Matthews, Hon Deborah Mauro, Bill McGuinty, Hon Dalton McMeekin, Hon Ted McNeely, Phil Meilleur, Hon Madeleine Miller, Norm Miller, Paul Milloy, Hon John Mitchell, Carol Moridi, Reza Munro, Julia Murdoch, Bill Naqvi, Yasir O'Toole, John Orazietti, David Ouellette, Jerry J. Pendergast, Leeanna Peters, Hon Steve Phillips, Hon Gerry Prue, Michael Pupatello, Hon Sandra Qaadri, Shafiq Ramal, Khalil Ramsay, David Rinaldi, Lou Runciman, Robert W. Ruprecht, Tony Sandals, Liz Savoline, Joyce Scott, Laurie Sergio, Mario Shurman, Peter Smith, Hon Monique M. Smitherman, Hon George Sorbara, Greg Sousa, Charles Sterling, Norman W. Tabuns, Peter Takhar, Hon Harinder S. Van Bommel, Maria Watson, Hon Jim Wilkinson, Hon John Wilson, Jim Witmer, Elizabeth Wynne, Hon Kathleen O. Yakabuski, John Zimmer, David If you don't know your MPP, click here
Name:
E-mail Address:
City:
Province:
Note that your name, city, province and e-mail address will automatically be added to the end of the letter.

Go to their website- to send your letter- http://www.croplife.ca/web/mailmp/