A cosmetic pesticide ban is crucial in protecting us and the environment. Species must be protected from further extinctions and biodiversity in general must be protected to prevent the collapse of ecological and food systems. People must be free from toxic chemicals in the air they breathe, impacting both their long and short-term health.

A ban will leave people with safer, more effective tools for yard and park management and help keep us all healthy. We call on the city to:

• Enact a bylaw to ban the cosmetic use of pesticides.
• Allow exemptions from the ban only for public health purposes.
• Provide proactive public education about the ban, informing city employees, councillors, and the public of the suspected link of several pesticides used for cosmetic purposes to cancer and other serious illnesses, the increased risk for children, the toxicity of pesticides to pollinators and wildlife, and the importance of biodiversity.
• Provide the public with a list of least toxic pesticide alternatives, including alternative lawn and garden management practices.
• Lead by example, decreasing mowing and planting hardy native species.