Pesticide Free P.E.I. celebrates Stratford ban

A group lobbying for an end to cosmetic pesticide use on P.E.I. is marking an important victory Thursday night.

"We hope Stratford is leading the way here," said Pesticide Free P.E.I. member Roger Greaves.

Stratford, P.E.I.'s third largest community, became the first municipality to pass a bylaw banning cosmetic pesticide use by commercial companies.

Earlier this year it looked like the whole Charlottetown area — the capital city, Stratford and Cornwall — were going pesticide free.

• Municipalities consider joint cosmetic pesticide ban

But in May Stratford balked, saying it wanted to survey residents first, and then last month Charlottetown voted down a proposed bylaw.

But the tide turned in Pesticide Free P.E.I.'s favour again Thursday. All but one councillor voted in favour of the ban.

"We hope Charlottetown will follow suit.  That'd be great," said Greaves.

Municipalities don't have the power to ban the sale of pesticide products or to stop residents from spraying them. They can only restrict lawn care companies.

Stratford Mayor David Dunphy thinks it will make a difference.

"It's a first step for sure," said Dunphy.

"From an environmental standpoint, it sends a message."

It would require provincial legislation to ban the sale of lawn chemicals, but with little interest at that level, Pesticide Free P.E.I. is continuing to focus on municipalities.

"We're hoping for Cornwall next, then possibly Summerside, and then Montague," said Greaves.

Greaves said it will take a while to convince Charlottetown to try to pass a bylaw again.

While the group does not expect provincial legislation soon, it would like to see a plan from the province for less chemical use both on lawns and in agriculture.