Society urges city to ban pesticides

Statistics are clear, 50 per cent of cancers can be prevented.

“At least 10 per cent of that is related to environmental carcinogens,” said Patti Moore, community action co-ordinator for the Canadian Cancer Society, Kootenay Region.

Moore was at the most recent city council meeting speaking with council and urging the City of Castlegar to move toward becoming a pesticide free municipality.

“It’s better to be safe than sorry,” warned Moore, who added that children are most at risk when it comes to getting cancer from pesticides.

“Children are at a greater risk from pesticides because they are closer to the ground, they put things in their mouth and they have more permeable skin.”

In fact, the Canadian Cancer Society is so convinced by the statistics, said Moore, it wants the provincial government to ban the sale of pesticides.

In the meantime, she added, municipalities such as Castlegar can take a proactive stance, fashion some strong bylaws and become pesticide free.

“In Canada, there are 154 municipalities which have adopted pesticide-free bylaws. Twenty of those are in British Columbia,” Moore said.

Moore added for many municipalities that are sitting on the pesticide-free fence, it’s just a matter of education to help them make the change.

“The majority, when provided information, are willing to make the shift to pesticide-free.”

Moore said contrary to popular belief, implementing pesticide bylaws won’t be the death knell for businesses the way that recent smoking bylaws were.

“Bylaws do not harm business, they stimulate business and it will show leadership and raise your profile as Castlegar being a safe and healthy place to raise children,” added Moore.

A motion was made to refer the information to the city’s public works department to add to information it has already gathered regarding going pesticide free.

“Eventually we will make a decision on policy and how we’re going to get there,” said councilor Deb McIntosh.