Q4: In 2003 Caledon was on the leading edge by passing the Healthy Horticultural   Landscapes By-Law. As more and more municipalities have passed Pesticide          By-Laws, Caledon’s appears to be lagging behind the newer by-laws.  Will you       support strengthening Caledon’s by-Law when it is voted on by Council in the  next term?

Regional Council Candidates:

Richard Paterak

"I do not support any major changes to the HHL By-law.  Caledon is quite different than most of the communities that have passed more restrictive by-laws.  The difference is that they are homogeneous residential communities.  We are a community of communities including a large farm community.  I believe what we have done is to set a tone that many residents are embracing, and at the same time giving the agricultural community the piece of mind that we are not going to attempt to restrict agricultural uses.  I realize that the two uses, agricultural and cosmetic are not actually connected, but they are connected in the minds of many.  I prefer to wait and see what the federal and provincial governments are going to do.  As long as it is legal to sell pesticides to householders, it is quite illusionary to by-law strict restrictions.  We do not have the resources or desire to have top done enforcement policy which would be necessary for a stricter by-law."

Jim Pattison

No reply.

Area Council Candidates:

Doug Beffort

"I would need to know what is being suggested by ‘strengthening’ the by-laws. We can’t compare our laws to those used solely for urban centres. There is a difference when we have farms and other land uses that are not the traditional housing areas for many laws in other jurisdictions. We had one of the first by-law programs for Healthy Horticultural Landscapes. Perhaps we do need to review it by having some experts tell us what is working and what is not. I would be in favour of revising our law as long as it takes into consideration the blending of rural and urban. I do think we need to tighten up the issue of ‘spot spraying’. There seems to be a lot of liberty taken with that expression."

"I believe that education is the key to this issue and that Council should be supportive in all ways of making sure that education occurs. Children of today are encouraging their parents to stop using pesticides. Our young residents are making choices like never before. Our job, as I see it, is to have by-laws that set a moral tone for how we treat ourselves environmentally. Industries are beginning to correct themselves re pesticides. As an example, some golf courses are now using dobbers to eradicate weeds as opposed to full scale spraying. The additional workforce required provides employment and the cost is offset by the reduced use of pesticides. A win, win situation. We need to nurture relationships with golf courses and other companies who do a good job of controlling their environments by progressive techniques without pesticides, etc. and publish the findings and their names."

"As a resident of a small acreage home I would like to see the continuation of an educational program that provides employment and gives me the opportunity to make some choices about how I am going to become more involved in the decisions to use less pesticides and yet be proud of the ‘look’ and health of my land. I’m trying and my neighbours are talking about it. Perhaps with some revisions we are doing it the correct way. Perhaps we should develop a comprehensive ‘test’ for homeowners to determine how they are actually doing on this issue."

Tim Forester

"Personally I have never felt the need to be weed or bug-free however I know many residents desire higher standards or experience infestations. If you have an all out ban on commercial pesticide use and products are still available at the retail level you encourage more indiscriminate and uncontrolled pesticide use. I understand that new technologies and management procedures have radically reduced commercial pesticide use. We need to partner with both the commercial sector and environmental sector to obtain the proper balance. This summer was wet and cool and I am told many properties would have benefited from spraying during the prohibited months of July and August. Greater flexibility would have reduced damage and potential misuse."

John Martin

"To be honest pesticide bylaws have never affected me personally. All farmers who use pesticides have to take a course to prove competence. The federal government has approved   certain chemicals to be used on particular crops. I trust they have made the correct decision and I hope they are constantly monitoring these chemicals. I do not trust food imported from other countries as I do not know what chemicals have been used. As for horticultural use, weeds as they are known by some people give my lawn character. If I don't want a particular species to take over I may intervene but not chemically. As for changes to the bylaw I will consider strengthening the bylaw if I see merit in it."