“For the first time in the history of the world, every human being is now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals, from the moment of conception until death.”
- Rachel Carson

Lawn chemicals bug me. Well, I’m not a huge fan of lawns in general, but the poisons people pour on them really bug me. In the suburbs, lawns can be a Very Big Deal and I guess that’s okay. But when I’m standing in my kitchen and I can taste your Weed n Feed… something’s not right. Or when you’ve sprayed your roses and my indoor cats are coughing and foaming at the mouth… maybe it’s a little too much. I don’t begrudge a person his or her lawn (much), but I do resent being forced to walk through the fertilizer/pesticide pellets that are strewn on the sidewalk because then poisons that I don’t use on my own lawn are tracked into the house on shoes and stroller wheels and my dog’s feet. Now they are in my home, where the baby plays on the floor and where we, yanno, live. And I resent that chemicals that pose a serious risk to health are applied at all, just for better looking grass.

Yesterday, the Ontario provincial government announced plans to ban the cosmetic use of pesticides. CBC news reports:

Ontario’s proposed ban on the sale and cosmetic use of pesticides will be the toughest in North America once it becomes law, supporters said Tuesday… More than 300 pesticide products will be banned for use in Ontario once the ban is fully implemented in 2009.

Excellent. Currently, there are municipalities in Ontario that ban the use of cosmetic pesticides and this will give everyone in the province the same protection. Exceptions include farming, forestry, health and safety and golf courses.
Wait. Golf courses? Why?

And there are those who disagree with the plan. Take for example, one Mr. Peter MacLeod, who is (shockingly) a spokesman for a pesticide industry association. He says,

“We think this will impact people’s perception about food safety,” he said. “We think this will impact people’s perception about the safety of our medical supply.
“I mean, you’re questioning Health Canada.”

Oh, Mr. MacLeod, where do I begin? We could talk about what you think people’s perceptions actually are about food and medical supply safety. And perhaps you could explain to me what you think the reasons are that so many people choose organic foods when they can and are exploring alternative medicines.

Or, we could talk about the frightening-on-a-whole-other-level subject of why you think managing people’s perceptions about the safety of their food and medicine is more important than actually ensuring the safety of their food and medicine.

And there is this: “I mean, you’re questioning Health Canada.” Huh? I have no problem with anyone questioning Health Canada, or any other institution of authority. In fact, I believe we have a right and an obligation to question because authority that cannot stand up to questioning isn’t worth anything. And because unquestioned authority can be a very dangerous thing.

I have respect and gratitude for all those people who devote themselves to their work at Health Canada because they make an important and positive difference. But no institution is perfect or infallible. And an institution must always answer to those it serves.

But critics and golf courses aside, I’ve been looking forward to this for a long, long time. And I hope never to have to taste Weed N Feed again.

There is an update to this post here.