![['Cornwall town councillor Peter Meggs checks some paperwork during the regular meeting of council Wednesday night. ']](https://saltwire.imgix.net/peter-meggs-1788705.jpg?cs=srgb&fit=crop&h=568&w=847&dpr=1&auto=enhance%2Ccompress%2Cformat)
CORNWALL — Cornwall Coun. Peter Meggs wants a ban on all cosmetic pesticides but he wants the province, not the town, to do it.
He voted against a recent council motion seeking power to regulate pesticides.
That motion came from Coun. Corey Frizzell, calling on the provincial government to amend the Charlottetown Area Municipalities Act to empower municipalities to regulate cosmetic pesticides.
In a rare move, arch rival Coun. Marlene Hunt seconded the motion.
“Even they can get together on some issues,” said Meggs.
Meggs and Coun. Irene Dawson voted against.
“Both (Coun. Dawson) and I tried to make it very clear that we are opposed to cosmetic pesticides, in no uncertain terms,” said Meggs. “However, I see this as letting the province off the hook.
“I think we have got more than enough on our plate right now at the municipal level and we don’t have the resources to do the kind of legislation and enforcement that the province should be doing.”
A municipality needs a high level of advice and legal expertise beyond municipal budgets to draft such controversial legislation, said Meggs. A municipality would have to hire extra staff for enforcement.
The province has a Department of Environment, with staff, plus legislation passed in 2010 banning just one pesticide, 2,4-D.
“The infrastructure has been set up so that the department of the environment should be responsible for all of this,” said Meggs.
“Obviously it is responsible but it’s just the question, is what happened in 2010 sufficient?
“A huge groundswell of opinion says it isn’t sufficent.
“Cosmetic pesticides are still pretty much rampant and there is still spraying going on.
“The chemicals that do go on lawns now, that aren’t regulated by the province, are very questionable chemicals,” said Meggs.
“I don’t think the province has done a good job with its responsibility but I don’t think municipalities should be taking up that responsibility,” he said.
“I think the role of the municipalities is to make our wishes known to the province on no uncertain terms, that we don’t think the present legislation is sufficient and that there should be a ban on cosmetic pesticides, or at least better control and a wider range of pesticides that are regulated,” said Meggs.
The province must surely be pleased that Charlottetown, Stratford and now Cornwall want to regulate cosmetic pesticides, said Meggs.
“This lets them off the hook,” he said again. “That’s one less thing on the provincial plate and one more thing on our plate.”
CORNWALL — Cornwall Coun. Peter Meggs wants a ban on all cosmetic pesticides but he wants the province, not the town, to do it.
He voted against a recent council motion seeking power to regulate pesticides.
That motion came from Coun. Corey Frizzell, calling on the provincial government to amend the Charlottetown Area Municipalities Act to empower municipalities to regulate cosmetic pesticides.
In a rare move, arch rival Coun. Marlene Hunt seconded the motion.
“Even they can get together on some issues,” said Meggs.
Meggs and Coun. Irene Dawson voted against.
“Both (Coun. Dawson) and I tried to make it very clear that we are opposed to cosmetic pesticides, in no uncertain terms,” said Meggs. “However, I see this as letting the province off the hook.
“I think we have got more than enough on our plate right now at the municipal level and we don’t have the resources to do the kind of legislation and enforcement that the province should be doing.”
A municipality needs a high level of advice and legal expertise beyond municipal budgets to draft such controversial legislation, said Meggs. A municipality would have to hire extra staff for enforcement.
The province has a Department of Environment, with staff, plus legislation passed in 2010 banning just one pesticide, 2,4-D.
“The infrastructure has been set up so that the department of the environment should be responsible for all of this,” said Meggs.
“Obviously it is responsible but it’s just the question, is what happened in 2010 sufficient?
“A huge groundswell of opinion says it isn’t sufficent.
“Cosmetic pesticides are still pretty much rampant and there is still spraying going on.
“The chemicals that do go on lawns now, that aren’t regulated by the province, are very questionable chemicals,” said Meggs.
“I don’t think the province has done a good job with its responsibility but I don’t think municipalities should be taking up that responsibility,” he said.
“I think the role of the municipalities is to make our wishes known to the province on no uncertain terms, that we don’t think the present legislation is sufficient and that there should be a ban on cosmetic pesticides, or at least better control and a wider range of pesticides that are regulated,” said Meggs.
The province must surely be pleased that Charlottetown, Stratford and now Cornwall want to regulate cosmetic pesticides, said Meggs.
“This lets them off the hook,” he said again. “That’s one less thing on the provincial plate and one more thing on our plate.”
