Council acts on cosmetic herbicides

Ban on city land wins approval — with plenty of exemptions

Edmonton city council banned the cosmetic use of herbicides on city land Tuesday, but made that ban subject to a long list of exemptions.

Herbicides may still be used on sports fields, golf courses, lawn bowling greens, cemeteries, in stormwater ponds, to protect city structures and to prepare highly visible parks for major international events among other exceptions.

They may also be used to treat weeds on the provincial noxious weeds list, such as scentless chamomile and Canada thistle.

Basically, the ban will bring the amount of turf treated in Edmonton down to one per cent from the current four per cent, said community services branch manager Linda Cochrane.

That’s already down from 50 per cent of city turf in the 1990s.

“I’m heartened to hear we are moving the dial,” said Coun. Scott McKeen, saying the effects of low concentrations of mixed toxins in our environment are unknown.

While dandelions are visible, “what’s not visible is the potential subtle and synergistic effects,” McKeen said.

“This is erring on the side of caution for our citizens and our children.”

Councillors Michael Oshry, Tony Caterina, Bryan Anderson and Mike Nickel voted against the ban. Anderson put forward the list of exemptions suggested by city administration. Only exemptions for sports fields and high-profile parks for international events were contentious.

Oshry called the ban a “feel-good story that’s not going to achieve much. ... If this was that dangerous, we would be banning it everywhere all the time.”

City council has debated and defeated other motions to ban or limit pesticides and herbicides with attempts dating back to 2001.

This final successful motion came from Coun. Ben Henderson.

Nickel tried and failed to postpone the vote to hear from Health Canada and the federal Pest Management Regulatory Agency, which regulate the use of herbicides.