Cosmetic pesticides bylaw in effect

Bylaw provides for an exception for an insect infestation

The City of Charlottetown’s cosmetic pesticide bylaw, which restricts non-domestic pesticides, is now in effect for all properties within the municipality.

Non-domestic pesticides refers to commercial-grade pesticides applied by a commercial applicator, not those purchased in store and applied by individual homeowners.

“We have joined the Town of Stratford and the Town of Cornwall in implementing a Cosmetic Pesticides Bylaw that For tips on maintaining a naturally healthy lawn, visit: www. charlottetown.ca and click on the “Cosmetic Pesticide Bylaw Info” button. To view the full bylaw, visit www.charlottetown.ca/bylaws. php regulate the use of non-domestic pesticides on agriculture land, golf courses, forests and on or inside of buildings, along with all domestic pesticide products that homeowners can purchase at a store and apply themselves.

Homeowners can continue to purchase products from local retailers to apply themselves, or can continue to work with licensed applicators, who can work within the bylaw to provide ongoing service.

The current bylaw provides for an exception for an insect infestation.

To receive an exception, the homeowner or applicator is required to provide proof that the infestation meets the threshold outlined in the bylaw and to pay an administration fee in order to obtain permission to use a restricted pesticide on their property.

A new funding formula has been designed to improve how Island watershed organizations receive provincial money.

Funding will now be distributed more predictably to the groups, which work to protect and improve some of the Island’s environmentally sensitive areas.

The provincial government provides watershed groups more than $1.12 million each year.

The formula will allocate half of the funds based on size (or area managed), 25 per cent based on performance and 12.5 per cent based on community involvement. It will be reviewed annually and adjusted as needed, based on feedback from groups and the P.E.I. Watershed Alliance.

The formula also ensures transparency in funding and addresses the groups’ yearly concern around funding predictability and stability, allowing groups to plan for the long term.

Dale Cameron, chairman of the alliance, said they’re pleased with the new formula.

“We feel the transparency of the new formula allows our groups to clearly see where they excel and where they can improve,’’ Cameron said.