When the provincial-wide ban came into effect in April 2009, it was the toughest pesticide rule book in Canada, outlawing more than 250 products for sale and over 95 ingredients for cosmetic uses on lawns, vegetable and ornamental gardens, patios, driveways, cemeteries, and in parks and school yards. It also superseded the City’s Pesticide By-law from 2006, and any other municipal pesticide by-law.  There are five different pesticide classes – Class  A (manufacturing), Class B (restricted), Class C (commercial),Class D (domestic) and Class E (treated seeds).

In all cases of non-compliance, the Ministry follows-up to ensure that individuals and companies take appropriate actions to achieve compliance. The province regulates the sale, use, transportation, storage and disposal of pesticides in Ontario. Ontario’s Pesticides Act and Ontario Regulation 63/09 provide the province’s framework to regulate pesticides

By law, you cannot use certain pesticides to kill weeds and insects on: lawns, vegetable and ornamental gardens, patios, driveways, parks or schoolyards. Pesticides cannot be used that contain certain ingredients, including: 2,4-D, Diazinon or glyphosate. These pesticides are banned for cosmetic purposes because they may pose an unnecessary risk to human health, particularly children’s health and the natural environment. Ontario bans the cosmetic use of pesticides to protect Ontarians from unnecessary risk by only allowing certain, low-risk pesticides for controlling weeds and pests on lawns and gardens.

Many people just don’t  know how dangerous and unnecessary pesticide application truly is. Try using these motivational tips to avoid any potential conflicts that may arise when discussing pesticide use.