Kamloops pesticide ban passes, will be implemented January 2016
KAMLOOPS – Next year residents of Kamloops will no longer be able to hire licensed applicators to spray their lawns or ornamental shrubs.
A ban on cosmetic pesticide use was passed today, July 14, in city council to a round of applause from those who remained in council chambers for the decision.
The proposed ban, which will see a complete ban on all cosmetic pesticide use even by licensed applicators, was brought forward by Coun. Tina Lange last month and Coun. Arjun Singh suggested tabling the motion to give council more time to gather information.
As the deciding vote, Singh was the last piece in the proposed bylaw puzzle. While other councillors had made their positions known prior to the vote, Singh was the remaining holdout.
He jokingly admitted he wished he had an excuse not to be present today because he was the sway vote in the motion, which passed five to four in favour of the ban.
Nearly every councillor said they had received multiple emails and calls from concerned residents on both sides of the debate. The gallery was packed today, as it was on June 2 when the motion first came forward, prompting Mayor Peter Milobar to close public inquiries to the pesticide debate to avoid the slightly unruly and lengthy procession that occurred in June.
After the vote, talk turned to taking the motion further. This ban applies to residential spaces and Coun. Singh proposed an amendment to extend it to include municipal or city spaces as well. Coun. Pat Wallace suggested tabling that debate until a later date, to be decided in October.
Coun. Donovan Cavers also put forth an amendment that instead of the ban being effective immediately, it be implemented Jan. 1, 2016. He felt this was fair to both residents and businesses alike that must now alter their current practices. The amendment passed immediately.
Councillors in favour: Cavers, Lange, Singh, Dieter Dudy and Denis Walsh.
Councillors opposed: Milobar, Wallace, Ken Christian and Marg Spina.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Dana Reynolds at dreynolds@infonews.ca or call 250-819-6089. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
Join the Conversation!
Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
5 responses
I quit using pesticides over 20 yrs ago…. I use natural fertilizers…hand pick weeds…my yard is blooming beautifully… I have bees, butterflies, hummingbirds drinking the nectar from my plants…kids and pets are safe on my lawns…happy to be pesticide free and contributing to a safe environment.
OMG how did these idiots get onto council.When we get some noxious weeds then what are they going to do.What a bunch of frigging idiots.Nothing like putting businesses out of work too.Guess it’s time to move. Way to be idiots, now watch everyone breaking the law to keep their yards nice and get sick cause they don’t know what they are doing.Perhaps we should ban the pulp mill and the trains too cause they definitely put out cancer causing agents.Way to be morons.They shouldn’t be allowed to vote on something like that either.It should be up to the citizens of Kamloops.Not a handful at City hall.We should have a vote for what the citizens of Kamloops want.Not 5 morons on council.I guess we need to start a petition.Anyone with me?
so now what do we do with the mosquito and bug problem..just let it esculate? we have swarms of mosquitos and black flies that love to bite.
Very sad
That bullshit should be our choice