Even though summer is a distant memory and Calgary’s winter has hit full force, that did not stop Calgary City Council from discussing at length, and subsequently filing for now (thank goodness), yet another potentially costly bylaw. 

What bylaw now you ask?  Pesticides.  A bylaw that, had it been passed by Council, would have been costly to maintain, difficult to enforce and once again out of our municipal jurisdiction. 

While the pesticides issue has been filed for now, I want to share with Calgarians my opinion on the subject.  Should a pesticides bylaw be revisited in the future, I maintain that it is not an issue that City Council should be dealing with and here’s why.
First, City Council has no business, and certainly no expertise, in the highly technical world of Health Canada.  Every day, over 350 experts work tirelessly to protect Canadians.  Protect you and I from faulty consumer products like baby cribs, from viruses like H1N1 with vaccine treatments, and from harmful medicines that are recalled.

When it comes to their dedicated work and studies on pesticides, Health Canada has demonstrated how extensive and thorough the process is of testing possible harm to humans and animals. Consider in particular their work in testing the multitude of pesticides that are safely used in the production of virtually every food we eat.  I remain convinced these scientists are the appropriate experts to ensure the health and safety of all Canadians, far more so than members of Calgary City Council.

Second, pesticides are completely regulated by both the provincial and federal governments. I do not believe it will ever be in the best interest of Calgary taxpayers to add a third  layer of municipal bureaucracy.  In my opinion, should a pesticides bylaw ever be considered, Calgary cannot afford the cost and burden associated with enforcing what would ultimately be an unenforceable bylaw.  I am willing to wager that Calgarians would rather see more of their hard-earned dollars going into effective snow removal and road-service assistance given Calgary’s unpredictable weather patterns, than potentially enforcing a pesticide bylaw that would ultimately result in their neighborhoods being overcome with dandelions.

Third, quoting from the report presented to Council, Proposed Pesticide Bylaw UE2009-34, a municipal pesticide bylaw would be challenging to enforce.  “As evidenced by several Canadian municipalities, the burden of proof and evidence is complex and may be costly.”  The financial impact of enforcement, if it ever comes to that, will cost city taxpayers millions of dollars in increased labour and new licensing requirements.

Lastly, I am very concerned with the effect a pesticides bylaw would have on Calgary’s play and athletic fields. As Alderman of Ward Six, I already receive many complaints about weeds on boulevards and playfields where users can face safety issues. The effect of any pesticides bylaw would not only make the dandelion the un-official flower of our great city, but worse, the cost to re-sod athletic fields is significant, and must be taken into consideration in any future pesticide discussions.  Just ask our neighbours to the north. Edmonton had to replace a sports field in only three years after it was completely overcome with dandelions thanks to a banning of pesticides.

If there is anything positive for Calgary to embrace from what has been a very time-consuming deliberation for many, it is the opportunity to show real leadership and drive public education about “good” integrated pest management practices (IPM).   IPM uses the right amount of pesticide, at the right time, with the right tools.  Now that is something we should all support.  Not only is it common sense, but it is an effective way of managing the valuable and treasured private and public green spaces that adults and children alike enjoy every day.

Joe Connelly
Alderman, Ward Six
City of Calgary