Town of Wolfville, Nova Scotia

Introduction

The following introduction draws from the Terms Of Reference (64.51 kB) for the Task Force.

The Town worked over a three year period (from 1999-2002) with the Going Green group to educate citizens about the effects and impacts of the application of landscape pesticides on lawns, shrubs, trees, etc., on pollinators of agricultural crops, on water sources and on the health of citizens and pets.

In the fall of 2004 Mayor Bob Stead established a small working group with representatives from the Town, Acadia University, Sierra Club of Canada, and the Regional Health Authority to consider background, issues, stages of development of pesticide bylaws in Canada and other municipalities in Nova Scotia and a possible process for moving toward a pesticide policy within the Nova Scotia context.

After several meetings where research, updates, and feedback were gathered, reviewed and duly considered, the Mayor and Chief Administrative Officer felt that the time had come to set up a Task Force.

The goal of the Wolfville Pesticide Management Task Force is to facilitate the process of bringing before Council a recommendation for a pesticide policy which would lead to the elimination of cosmetic use of nonessential landscape pesticides* for the Town of Wolfville and its citizens. The recommendation would be accompanied by a substantive report with analysis of the broader scale issues, pertinent research, results of relevant cross Canada municipal government experiences and perspectives in this regard, the results of citizen consultation and feedback from citizens, businesses, and Acadia University in Wolfville and recommendation for moving ahead.

Task Force Objectives:

1. To continue to review all options for bringing into existence a public policy which works toward the elimination of the cosmetic use of landscape pesticides.
2. To hold consultations and hearings to acquire input of citizens after an adequate period of public education.
3. To draft an analysis and report on the findings of the Task Force including both research and feedback from citizens.
4. To work with the Sierra Club of Canada and other locally based environmental education groups to further educate the citizens of Wolfville about the nature and threats imposed by landscape pesticides and their cosmetic use; and the kinds of bylaws and policies emerging across Canada to address these threats. To do so by neighbour-to-neighbour outreach, public meetings, workshops, resource materials in libraries, town hall and as handouts, a website, and seminars among others. To ensure that Town Councillors and employees receive all educational materials and workshop training exposure before citizens do so they, too, can be ambassadors for a pesticide free and sustainable community.
5. To explore ideas for educating and advising citizens in using alternatives, the management of and developing alternatives for existing landscapes, and developing and recommending a strategy.
6. To bring forward a recommendation for a public policy with protection for citizens, pets and the ecosystem.
7. To accomplish the objectives of the Wolfville Pesticide Management Task Force within the 2005 calendar year.

The Task Force meeting minutes are posted on this website, and a Final Report (4.76 MB) was completed in April 2007.