Summerside cosmetic pesticide ban defeated

A motion before Summerside council to ban the use of some lawn care chemicals was defeated Monday night, and the process for a new bylaw in the P.E.I. city was started.

The debate went on for more than an hour before the motion was voted down.

But another motion was put on the floor and passed. It will see the development of a public education campaign around alternative products, and following that campaign a new bylaw.

Mayor Bill Martin was disappointed. A big part of his election campaign was getting some kind of ban through.

"Decisions are made by council, you need to respect that. True democracy recognizes that you're not always going to get your way," said Martin.

"I supported and continue to support a ban on cosmetic pesticides. I think the way the process has unfolded and is unfolding will likely see that happen, but probably a year later than I would have liked to have seen it."

In the original motion the ban would have come into effect in March 2016.

In the new plan the educational component will take most of next year and a will have a bylaw drafted by September that could go into effect by March 2017.