October 29, 1998

To:Works and Utilities Committee, Board of Health and Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee

From:Environmental Task Force

Subject:Pesticides

Purpose:

To respond to the request from City Council to consider the pesticides motion that was before City Council on June 3, 4 and 5, 1998 and report thereon to Works and Utilities Committee.

Source of Funds:

Not applicable

Recommendations:

1.That City Council indicate its support for the development of targets, strategies and actions to eliminate uses of chemical pesticides on public green space and in public buildings by all City departments, agencies, boards and commissions and that targets, strategies and actions be established in time for preparation for the 1999 growing season (ie. winter, 1998).

2.That City Council and relevant City departments, agencies, boards and commissions be advised that the Task Force strongly supports the following actions which are underway by City staff:

i)an inventory of types, volumes and reasons for chemical pesticide use both indoors and outdoors by all City departments, agencies, boards and commissions; and

ii)strategies and options to reduce/eliminate chemical pesticide uses in the City of Toronto.

3.That City Council be advised that the Environmental Task Force is willing to assist by examining the issue of chemical pesticides, including the reports being prepared by City staff, and recommending a plan which will include targets, time lines, options and strategies for the elimination of pesticide uses in Toronto.

4.That the Works and Utilities Committee receive this report for information.

5.That the Board of Health adopt this report and forward it to City Council together with the report on pesticides from the Medical Officer of Health.

6.That the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee receive this report for information and consideration together with the pending report requested by City Council on pesticide alternatives and costs involved from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism.

7.That the Toronto Inter-departmental Environment Team (TIE) submit the inventory of indoor and outdoor pesticide uses and the proposed corporate strategy for the reduction/elimination of outdoor pesticide uses to the Environmental Task Force by fall 1998 en route to Standing Committee..

Background:

At its meeting on July 28, 1998, the Environmental Task Force had before it the request from City Council to report to the Works and Utilities Committee on the pesticide motion that was considered by City Council at its meeting on June 3, 4 & 5, 1998 (see attachment).

The Environmental Task Force was established by City Council to prepare an Environmental Plan for Toronto and identify immediate environmental issues for consideration by City Council. Task Force members include City Councillors, environmental agencies and citizens with a variety of backgrounds including environmental groups, business, education and labour.

The term pesticides is understood to refer to a variety of formulated chemical products including herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and rodenticides.

Comments:

The Environmental Task Force believes that there are strong reasons to move towards a sustainable approach that aims to eliminate the use of chemical pesticides. In recent years, public concern about the harmful effects of pesticides on human health and the environment has been increasing. Scientific evidence has shown that pesticide use is associated with a range of adverse health and environmental impacts. Furthermore, alternatives to chemical pesticide use are successfully being used by many jurisdictions as part of pesticide reduction programs.

Over the coming months the Environmental Task Force will be working with stakeholders, including City staff, to examine environmental priorities and identify targets, strategies and options to address these priorities. The Task Force believes that pesticides use is an important environmental issue for Toronto. Accordingly, the Task Force is willing to assist by examining the issue of pesticides and recommending a plan which will include targets, time lines, options and strategies for eliminating chemical pesticide uses in Toronto and encouraging others to take similar action. The proposed targets and time lines would reflect the goal of eliminating chemical pesticide use while taking into consideration the availability of and need for alternatives. The possibility of pilot projects in visible locations such as Toronto or Metro Hall also will be explored.

The Task Force is aware of the following activities related to pesticides which are underway in the Corporation:

i) the preparation of a report by the Medical Officer of Health to the Board of Health for the fall of 1998 which will include an overview of community concerns about pesticide use as well as the potential adverse health and environmental impacts of pesticides and provide options that could be initiated by the City of Toronto to promote reductions in chemical pesticide use by Toronto residents;

ii) the report of the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism to Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on alternatives to pesticide uses on public green spaces and costs involved that was requested by City Council;

iii) the preparation of an inventory of indoor and outdoor pesticide uses by City Departments, Agency, Boards and Commissions that is being coordinated through the Toronto Interdepartmental Environmental Team; and

iv) the preparation of a corporate strategy for the reduction/elimination of outdoor pesticide uses that is being coordinated through the Toronto Interdepartmental Environmental Team.

The Task Force supports these activities and will coordinate its work with that of City officials. In view of the time frame of the Task Force, it would be most helpful if the Task Force is to recommend a plan if the above-mentioned reports of City officials could be made available to the Task Force in the fall of 1998 so that the information could be used as a starting point for developing a plan.

Conclusions:

The Environmental Task Force believes that eliminating the use of chemical pesticides is an important environmental goal for Toronto and is willing to assist by recommending a plan which includes targets, time lines, options and strategies.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Jane Weninger

Project Manager

Environmental Task Force

Phone (416) 392-6788

Fax: (416) 392-7418

Jack Layton

Chair, Environmental Task Force

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