We spoke with the Mayor and Council on August 2, 2007 regarding our concerns with being exposed to synthetic chemical poisons. the following is what we had to say.  (the next post below provides some background and is a letter we sent to council prior to this presentation)

Our Position 

We are completely opposed to pesticide* use because of the associated health and environmental risks. We are committed to working towards living in a community free of these hazards. On aesthetic grounds, we find the appearance of brown lifeless zones unappealing.   

Health and Environmental Risks 

There is new information coming out on a steady basis, including the Suzuki Report, the recent paper from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, and the Canadian Cancer Societies Saskatchewan Legislative Priorities for Cancer Control. They state: “Since ornamental use of pesticides has no countervailing health benefit and has the potential to cause harm, we call for a provincial ban on the use of pesticides for cosmetic, or ornamental purposes, and for a government sponsored program to inform users of safer alternatives.”   

We’ve learned that there are short term, acute effects, and chronic, long term effects linked to pesticide exposure.  Acute poisoning can affect the eyes, skin, the nervous, respiratory and cardiovascular systems as well as the gastrointestinal tract. In Saskatchewan in 2005/2006, 322 cases of acute poisonings were reported, of which 138 were children under six years old.  Chronic exposure to pesticides is linked to cancer, neurological impairment, developmental and reproductive effects, organ damage and interference with the human hormone system. Alzheimers, Autism, abnormal sperm are but a few specific possibilities. Additionally, 2.4% of Canadians have been diagnosed with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, a chronic sensitivity to even the minutest amount of synthetic chemical.    As a result of the known health and environmental dangers posed by pesticides many organizations are calling for stricter regulations or an outright ban. 

These include but are not limited to:The Saskatchewan Environmental Society, Saskatchewan Environment Network, Nature Saskatchewan, The Sierra Club of Canada, The David Suzuki Foundation, The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, and the

On the health front there’s: The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, The Learning Disabilities Association of Canada, The Saskatchewan Lung Association, The Ontario

This is truly a Canadian trend.  In 2001 the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that municipalities have the right to protect its citizens. The chemical pesticide companies fought to the highest court in the land, and lost. As of July 2007, 130 Canadian communities have adopted pesticide bylaws. From the large – Vancouver and Toronto, to the small like Brandon, or Parry Sound, a town of 504. 

Canadians are also embracing alternatives to synthetic pesticides and re-discovering we can still have beautiful homes, gardens, lawns and public spaces without their use. Here in Craik there are resources and people available to further strengthen healthy alternatives to pesticides, including the town’s own mulching initiative.  

The province of Quebec has adopted a Pesticide Code, and now 12.8 million Canadians benefit with increased protection from exposure to pesticides.

The following is the first of many posts regarding the use of chemical pesticides in our hometown of Craik, Saskatchewan. Please note that the word ‘pesticide’, also refers to any synthetic chemical herbicide, insecticide, fungicide, or pesticide etc.

This post has been changed. It was at first the entire letter we wrote to council following an unpleasant incident took place involving town employees spraying chemical herbicide. Now it contains only the questions we asked in writing to Craik’s Town Council and Mayor and their responses in italics as of Sept. 28, 2007.
We ask that the Town of Craik help create a public forum or town
hall meeting where people on opposing sides of this issue can come together and work out a peaceable and safe solution for all. We feel it of utmost importance that the town’s residents (and employees) displaying open hostility towards other members of the community be present at this meeting.

At the Town meeting council thought it was agreed that the CSLP should hold seminars educating the public about pesticides and their alternatives.

What is the official policy in writing regarding the usage of
chemical pesticides by the Town of Craik and its residents?

There is no official bylaw or policy on spraying pesticides.

Is there a policy for residents, businesses, the Town and the RM of Craik to notify neighbors about the application of pesticides?

What actions or training has the Town of Craik taken to educate its employees and citizens regarding the use of chemical pesticides?

For past 2 years the town office has sent out a newsletter with the utility bills asking residents to please inform their neighbors if they are planning to spray. The town office has agreed to post signs in the area that is being treated with herbicides.

What safeguards are put in place to ensure that chemical pesticide residues stay out of the water table; do not become airborne; and do not pose a health risk to citizens, their pets, tourists, visitors, and wildlife in the area?

…we feel that there may be some residue for a short time (till dries), but at no time do we feel that it releases toxic chemicals into the air.

What is the schedule of spraying, where does it take place, and
exactly what chemicals are the Town of Craik using?

…only apply herbicides on weeds that have first been cut and only in areas such as drainage ditches, power poles, sidewalk cracks, street cracks and vacant lots over run with noxious weeds.

Who specifically decides, and is therefore ultimately responsible
for the release of toxic chemical poisons in our town?

(no answer received, however we understand the town employee involved in the aforementioned unpleasant incident acted on his own following numerous complaints from town residents concerned about the weeds)