Pesticide legislation fails to impress municipalities

The P.E.I. government has tabled legislation to allow municipalities to regulate the use of cosmetic pesticides, but the Federation of P.E.I. Municipalities says it is too restrictive.

The federation wanted a blanket clause giving communities jurisdiction over factors affecting the health and well-being of residents, similar to legislation in other provinces.

The P.E.I. bill only involves cosmetic pesticides and doesn't allow municipalities to restrict their use on golf courses or on land used for agriculture, forestry or transportation.

I do have to admit to being disappointed, said Diane Griffin, vice president of the Federation of P.E.I. Municipalities.

It's not all that we had hoped for. It will achieve part of our goal, but we had not expected the legislation to be so prescriptive,

Griffin said a health and well-being clause would allow municipalities more control over things like air and water quality.

She noted that type of legislation has withstood legal challenges all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada.

For mobile device users: Should P.E.I.s cosmetic pesticide legislation give more power to municipalities?