Madhunt Publishing Company
Alliston, Ontario
705-435-6146

Madhunt Publishing Company
founded March 22, 1999.

New Tecumseth Free Press Online
First Posted April 30, 1999

To email: Tony Veltri .

New Tecumseth Free Press Online welcomes and reads letters to the editor reflecting the diverse views of all readers.

Letters on timely subjects of broad interest will be published. Letters may be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity.

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Group will continue to pressure Town for local ban on pesticide use

to the editor,

The recent announcement by the Canadian Paediatric Society, our leading authority on childhood illness, that "2,4-D can be persuasively linked to cancers, neurological impairment and reproductive problems" comes as no surprise. (For your information, 2,4D is one of the most common lawn herbicides).

There is a significant wave of concerned citizens and health organisations working diligently across Canada advocating for local pesticide bylaws designed to protect communities from unwanted exposure to synthetic lawn chemicals.

It is well known that the multi-national chemical industry continue to submit their own research (sometimes unpublished) on pesticides to the PMRA ( Pest Management Regulatory Agency). The federal government in turn shields the research by chemical corporations by protecting it from external scrutiny by the public, medical or scientific community.

The multi-national chemical corporations pay millions of dollars per year to the very regulatory agency that rules on registration approval of their products. They do not have to publicly disclose what is contained in the product formulations.

Why would any chemical corporation ever admit to health problems with any of the chemicals they produce? Liability protection - not health protection, motivates corporate and government secrecy.

Currently, over 90 municipalities as well as the Province of Quebec, now enjoy protection from exposure. Sadly, the Town of New Tecumseth is not one of them.

The Canadian Cancer Society supports pesticide bans, stating some substances used in pesticides are classified as known, probable or possible cancer-causing agents.

The New Tecumseth Environment Watch will continue to put pressure on New Tecumseth council so that we, just as the residents in Toronto, Vancouver, Quebec, etc, will be able to go outdoors in the spring, summer and fall, and enjoy the healthy breath of fresh air, not toxic lawn chemicals.

As a fundamental right, we believe that the unborn babies, babies, children and pets deserve to be protected from unwanted exposure to synthetic lawn toxins.

If you are truly concerned about the health of your family and neighbours, use natural approaches to a healthy, lush green lawn. The following web site will give you ten simple ways to do just that. www.organiclandscape.org

The New Tecumseth Environment Watch is currently on a membership drive, so if you would like to become a member, please either email us at ntew@sympatico.ca or call 905-729-2621 for more information.

Shauneen Mackay,
Beeton