Pesticide opponent wins award
October 6, 2006

The winner of a Halton Conservation Authority environmental award got to deliver a pitch to city councillors at last week's meeting. Lisa Knap and her husband Graham have been trying to convince their neighbours to stop using pesticides.

Ms Knap said their main argument points to the warnings of major health groups such as the Juravinski Cancer Centre and family doctors. Noting that doctors promotion of sunscreen to help prevent skin cancer, Knap asked “why would their advice in this case, that you reduce your exposure [to pesticides], be any less valid? Either you believe doctors or you don't, and it doesn't really make sense to pick and choose.”

She noted that federal regulators are currently re-assessing many permitted pesticides “and the first several that they looked at either failed or had their use severely restricted.” Acknowledging a clash between people focused on lawn care and those worried about their health, Knap argued that the latter's rights should prevail. “There's no doubt that maintaining your property is important, but in terms of pesticide exposure, it's just like second hand smoke. You don't really have a choice to get away from it.”

Terry Whitehead congratulated the Knaps, and Brian McHattie said they are doing “exactly the things we're hoping our citizens will do”. McHattie has been arguing for a bylaw against cosmetic use of pesticides, but city staff recently expanded their utilization of the chemicals.