Then
“We also approved a wide-reaching pesticide ban, which vastly reduces one of major sources of water pollution”. (David Miller, 2005 – Address at the Great Lakes Congressional Breakfast.)
“Pesticides are poisons,” he insists. “They are a health hazard…” (David Miller, May 2004)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Now
From today’s Star:
A city that was the first in Ontario to ban the cosmetic use of insecticides and pesticides is now spraying chemicals at temporary garbage dumps as well as putting out rat bait…
From Today’s National Post:
…Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health paid a visit to Christie Pits Park — one of 19 designated drop off points — where enraged local residents have been trying to have a temporary dump shut down as a hazard.
Dr. David McKeown inspected the site, then later held a news conference declaring it all clear. He called for understanding among angry neighbours who have been picketing fellow residents bringing their garbage and preventing the spraying of chemicals on the bags piled up in a melted ice rink that would keep away vermin.
“I am issuing an appeal to residents who are concerned about the garbage to co-operate with city officials and to ensure access to these sites by the pest control operator,” Dr. McKeown said in a statement. “While I appreciate there are concerns about the use of pesticides, I am satisfied that the city is taking the necessary precautions to ensure pesticides are applied in a way that minimizes any risk to public health.”
So which is it? Safe or not safe? Do pesticides and poisons leach into the water table or not? Are pesticides indeed poisons?
Or is the science entirely dependent on the political agenda of the day?
And if there is even a potential for disease due to public dumping of trash in city parks, why not declare garbage pickup an essential service?
I think Ontario-geofish has the right idea – Rats are people too.
* * * *
News Update: Exterminators blocked from Christie Pits - Toronto Sun
City closes two dumps, opens two new ones - Star:
…While Dr. David McKeown, the city’s medical officer of health, has repeatedly insisted that a well-managed temporary garbage site need not cause a health hazard, he said at a briefing at Metro Hall today there is evidence of an insect infestation at Christie Pits.
He issued a work order today to the city to implement an effective insect control program at the site, and urged neighbours to cooperate and allow pest control officials into the area.
While the garbage will remain at the sites until the end of the strike, periodic spraying will take place to keep vermin away...
MUST-READ: Toronto on strike: Our parks grow thick with trash, and the union smiles – Peter Kuitenbrouwer, National Post:
…At Christie Pits I asked Jim, the city solid waste manager, why the city doesn’t just come in the night with loaders and trucks, and take the trash somewhere a little more appropriate, like a transfer station or a landfill.
“Because of them,” explains Jim, pointing to the strikers nearby. “They’ll let it come in, but they won’t let it come out.”
* * * *
Saturday Update:
City seeks injunction for Christie Pits – Toronto Sun
Green bins: A wasted effort? Deep flaws mar recycling program as tons of organics end up in landfills or are turned into compost so toxic it kills plants – Star.
Sometimes the irony is so great it leaves you helpless with laughter
You got that one right: modern day “science” is entirely a function of political agendas. Welcome to age of dis-information.
Of course, in Millers’ leftist, Orwellian double-think, his statements make perfect sense: pesticides are simultaneously deadly poisons and a threat to life and the environment when in hands of the general public; however, these same pesticides are benign, necessary, health-promoting agents when in the hands of government workers.
After all, when it comes to running our lives, the modern political mantra (especially in Toronto’s socialist silly, er, City Hall) is that we (the public) are not qualified.
The Invasion of the Eco-warriors.
Their motto: BAN.
McGuinty and Miller and their socialists have propagated a massive hoax, again.
Pesticides are legal substances as are alcohol and tobacco.
They are subject to a user’s abuse as every chemical is in our Chemical Society.
To ban the use of legal substances is the perversion of socialists like Miller and McGuinty.
These bans are naught but the pathology of socialist control of individuals.
Big Nanny State, aka Health Canada agrees.
Here is the advice, which is really that rare substance called common sense.
“When using a Pesticide
Always read and follow the label directions.
The label specifies the correct use of the product so that it poses no health or environmental concerns. The label is a legal document that must be followed.
When using pesticides:
* Make sure that the pesticide label specifies use on lawns and lists the pest you wish to control;
* Follow all label directions;
* Comply with any additional local, regional or provincial government regulations for use and disposal of unused product or empty containers;
* Use any protective clothing, gloves or other equipment specified on the label; and,
* Store pesticides out of the reach of children and pets.”
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pest/index-eng.php
Miller is a dipsh**.
In other words, he’d make a fine federal NDP candidate one day.
Looks like the environuts have been forced to use the only things that work to keep people safe, the very products they banned. Hypocrisy at the highest levels in Millertown.
In other news about lunacy – apparently our little Lizzie is now telling her party that its objective is to get HER elected. I was kind of hoping she’d leave the country or something. Like a rash, she just won’t go away.
I could be wrong, but I don’t believe there is anything illegal about bringing in banned pesticides and herbicides from ‘free provinces’ or states and nothing illegal about applying Heath Canada approved pesticides and herbicides.
Personally I stocked up on Kill-X concentrate and Grub Killer, but will eventually have to make a run for the boarder to keep my lawn looking good.
I spray it from a plain bottle marked “Green Weed killer”. 6 ml of concetrate makes a Litre and lasts most of the summer for spot spraying.
East, I’ll laugh like hell when she STILL doesn’t get elected. Yippeeeee!
Then we can do what the country should have done all along: Ignore the old windbag.
What a ridiculous woman she is.
P.S. I think she’s still hoping for a Liberal senate seat/enviro minister job.
Since Miller & McSlippery have, in effect, made sure that pesticides are forbidden in Ontario.
I would like to see a internet petition where we can change the Official Ontario Flower from the Trillium to the dandilion
Except that we now officially call dandelions ‘McGuintys’ on this blog.
As in, I must go and pull all those wretched McGuintys out of my lawn.
Poll going horribly wrong at sympatico.msn.ca home page. They’re asking about oilsands expansion/our failing enviro grade.
h/t LaraB via SDA.
Soccermom – apparently she is also telling the broadcasters that she must be included in any leaders’ debate. She is something else. I won’t say what that “something else” would be. LOL.
Ah, found it. Here is the Worthington column on Lizzie. http://www.winnipegsun.com/comment/columnists/peter_worthington/2009/07/03/10011521-sun.html
Unions with solidarity presents:
“Strikers help block sprayer access at dump site
Updated: Fri Jul. 03 2009 1:18:52 PM
ctvtoronto.ca”
…-
The natural end result of McGuinty and Miller’s socialism: plague*, aka La Peste*: garbage and rats.
*Albert Camus the plague
Camus set The Plague in the Algerian city of Oran. In April the inhabitants begin to notice more and more dead and dying rats. Panic spreads throughout the …
http://www.camus-society.com/the-plague-albert-camus.htm
Poor Lizzie, she could only win if all greens across canada could vote for her. Maybe if she ran in 308 ridings-is that possible.
Why does she think she has to get elected.
Iggy is making stmts in Winnipeg that could/will come back to haunt him. via Bourque-
There are people in politics I would like to attack and Vic Toews is one of them.-
Seems he is still trying to distant himself from things he wrote about Ukranians in his book. Maybe he thinks we will all go buy that book to see how they have been taken out of context.
Duceppe out there trying to say the Bloc is not soft of pedophile criminals, and Iggy trying to say he didn’t say or write things. And PMSH attending the State Funeral. Shouldn’t Iggy have attended, as LaBlanc was an important liberal, and his son is an MP. I think Dominic should have continued his run for the leadership. He would have youth and time to rebuild a very broken party.
Paul Martin just interviewed on CBC re LeBlanc memories. He wasn’t there as he is recovering from knee surgery. How long did he wait for said surgery, where did he have it done. Was it done in a public hospital or private clinic.
Lizzy Greenie will be in my riding for the GPofC annual meeting and I’m sure to test support. Minister Gary Lunn just won the last election after a good run against the Liberal Ms Greenie Penn and the Green Party vote probably split it in favour of Lunn. With Lizzy running the Libs would come third, and a toss up for first between May and Lunn. Would be a very interesting battle and not a sure thing for the CPC. We are the Left Coast after all.
[...] figured I’d start a new thread because everyone seems to be talking about it [...]
I just put up a new post about Lizzie.
I love what Chris Selley said about Worthington’s column:
It’s curious to compare Elizabeth May with, say, Tim Hudak,” Peter Worthington muses in the Toronto Sun, and he’s quite right. Not only is it curious, in fact, but it proves utterly pointless as well.
Pesticides are very harmful substances and they should be banned for use by the public.
I don’t trust Joe Stupid to fallow instructions. Hell, not every one can read or even speak English. Or even not to buy a restricted Pesticide and try to pass it off as a allowed Pesticide.
Just so he doesn’t have to pull any weeds or so he can kill anything that comes within a 20m radius of his back yard.
Also in regards to ”Pesticides are legal substances as are alcohol and tobacco” Pesticides are meant to kill other things while alcohol and tobacco are meant to kill just you. There are even warning instructions on cigarettes saying ‘lethal’ and people don’t read those either.
Pesticide can poison you and me too. When the public sprays and causes contamination chances are we will never find out who or why it was done.
If the government sprays there usually is a good reason(health risks or hazardous infestation). Also it is well documented and they will read instructions and abide by the rules for safe and unsafe Pesticides.
Even if things go horribly wrong you still know who to blame and can make improvements to prevent it from happening again.
Basically the public should not have the to chemical WMD(yes I do mean ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’).
[...] my surprise, then, to learn that city of Toronto workers are spraying pesticides and other chemicals at temporary garbage drop-off sites as a result of the municipal strike. [...]
Pesticides are meant to kill other things while alcohol and tobacco are meant to kill just you.
Ever heard of second hand smoke and DUI?
(Or perhaps I’m missing your point.)
It is obvious that above student did not live in this world before pesticides were invented.
I would just like to ask the commenter @ #20 a question
So are you saying that lawn care specialists, horticulturalists and educated gardeners are STUPID and cannot properly read and administer a herbicide or pesticide?
However your position is that a TRAINED civic or provincial employee can?
I am assuming that you recognise the double standard of your statement.
However I am impressed that you have the time to individually pull every weed and clean every cupboard of your home from mouse or rat feces.
Don’t forget, vermin like rats and mice spread diseases as well.
Pick yer poison, I guess.
>>> *”Windsor’s mayor is in Europe vacationing as the city workers picket at a city dump where Windsor residents haul their garbage.”
Here is the doodoo-poo on Windsor’s Mayor:
“Eddie Francis became Mayor of Windsor in November of 2003.
* The Mayor is the Head of Council and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Corporation of the City ofWindsor.
* As Head of Council he presides over all meetings of Council. The Mayor ensures that the laws governing the Municipality are properly executed and obeyed.
* The Mayor has primary responsibility for seeing that the policies of the Municipality are implemented, and he works closely with Council to ensure that this occurs.
* As CEO, the Mayor has responsibility for all actions taken on behalf of the municipal corporation. The Mayor has ultimate authority for directing municipal spending priorities in accordance with local needs and preferences, and oversees the Municipality’s administration to ensure that all actions taken by administration are consistent with Council policies.
* From time to time the Mayor must communicate to Council recommendations that tend to the improvement of the finances, health, security, cleanliness, and comfort of the Municipality.”
http://www.citywindsor.ca/000086.asp
…-
Headline:
*”Windsor Garbage Strike
12 Weeks Old”
http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/local/090703_windsor_garbage
Thank you, Environmental Student for proving my point. You mutter vague hyperboles that “Pesticide can poison you and me too” without offering any context or anything that might support that statement, and then condescendingly brush off pesticide users as “Joe Stupid”.
Well, stupid is as stupid does, and many of the worst environmental disasters in history have been caused by governments. Everything from the monumental – the old Soviet government draining the Caspian Sea to irrigate failing cotton fields – to the mundane – Washington D.C. increasing its problem with lead in drinking water by switching from putting chlorine in water to chloramine (which is more corrosive and allows more lead to leach out of the old pipes). Why switch? Because of unfounded, activist driven, media hyped scare stories that chlorine causes cancer.
Neither the chlorine, nor the lead are actually at dangerous levels, but that doesn’t stop activists from pushing the governments to “do something”. Funded at taxpayer expense, of course. Thank God we have experts in the government to save us from ourselves.
Modern government controlled “science”: where ignorance and arrogance are rewarded, and the scientific method is ignored because it doesn’t make anyone any money.
I watched the funeral and did not see Iggy, even in a head shot of those in the church. But, when reporting later on a news update, Heather said top liberals from Iggy to — were there. Was he, did anyone see him. He is to be at a breakfast at the Zoo in Calgary tomorrow, and in Winnipeg yesterday. He is sure spreading a lot of ghg these past few days.
“Environmental Student said:”
Well, that says it all. LOL
The Environmental Student hit the nail on the head: the general public is naive and misinformed on the pesticide issue, as this blog shows, and let themselves to be manipulated by the pesticide industry. Above all, there is a big difference between herbicides and the insecticides to be sprayed on the Toronto garbage. (Pesticides is a generic term which includes all the “cides”.) Insecticides have been with us for centuries and tend to stay put–are not as volatile as herbicides applied to lawns are. Herbicides are very volatile toxic poisons invented during WWII for use on the battlefield. Before the Ontario municipal and provincial pesticide bans were implemented, we have had chemical warfare in peacetime in Ontario, poisoning young children especially. I live in a condo where turf was sprayed prior to 2007. For three weeks the horrible stench penetrated one’s body mercilessly. I wonder how many of our children will be eventually horribly sickened as a result of this outrage!
Insecticides have been with us for centuries and tend to stay put–are not as volatile as herbicides applied to lawns are.
Then why are they banned as well?
Joanne T.B., No B.S.
This blog shows how misinformed many of the Ontario public are: they don’t know that pesticides is a general category including all the “cides”. To say “herbicides and pesticides” is nonsensical. Pesticides are alleged to be safe if directions are followed. This is the standard industry propaganda. Pesticides kill and sicken precisely when “properly” administered. It is epidemiology, human science, rather than toxicology or rat science, that links herbicides, such as 2,4-D, to cancer, impaired child development, neurological illness such as Parkinson’s, immunological and reproductive harms, as well as diabetes. 2,4-D is contaminated by its own highly toxic dioxin during manufacturing–I have whistle blower data about this from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C.
Should there not be a website for the commenter @ #30?
Why pretend there is with the exception of wanting other readers to think there must be some legitimate power and facts behind that name.
As far as the spraying of city parks, where does this individual live?
I live next to 2 and although they do not spray any longer, when they did an odor was never present and the parks were usable within a day.
I mean, we are not talking about crop dusting here but a little Roundup would be helpful occasionally.
It seems that the quality of life these people intend is a parking lot. Cement it all!
Whoops, chemicals there too…..
Insecticides are banned under the Ontario provincial ban because in many cases their use, especially by the homeowner, is not justified and very dangerous to both people and pets. For example, my former dentist had a dog that was poisoned by something applied to a neighbour’s lawn. The dog died almost immediately. The difference between insecticides and herbicides is that insecticides poison exposed humans and animals immediately and don’t harm future generations, whereas the action of herbicides is just as deadly but is not instant and may also sicken future generations.
The difference between insecticides and herbicides is that insecticides poison exposed humans and animals immediately
Boy, I sure wouldn’t want to be living near Christie Pits if that’s the case.
whereas the action of herbicides is just as deadly but is not instant and may also sicken future generations.
That does not bode well for avid golfers since golf courses are except.
Bec @#33 – Google the name.
My response to Joanne’s comments about golf courses and exposure to pesticides:
1) We are talking primarily about the health dangers to young children. It is assumed that children are usually not to be found on golf courses.
2) Golf courses are not entirely off the hook, as their superintendents must produce annual reports on their pesticide application and they are expected to reduce their use of pesticides each year.
It is assumed that children are usually not to be found on golf courses.
Actually, a lot of Junior camps spend the whole summer on golf courses.
Oh and BTW Jean, I was recently golfing with a young woman in the early stages of pregnancy. She started feeling nauseous around a particular hole and asked if we smelled pesticides. I said possibly and it’s not surprising because they’re allowed on golf courses.
She was appalled.
Never bother to argue with an environmental expert.
Golf courses are big business. Maybe next the smart ones will be doing a study on the health of golfers and how pesticides/herbicides impact their health.
Maybe next the smart ones will be doing a study on the health of golfers and how pesticides/herbicides impact their health.
Or how it impacts the health of the golf course workers.
Nah, that would never happen because politicians like to go golfing too much.
*crickets*
Liz J and Joanne, pesticides are herbicides! Pesticides = insecticides, herbicides, rodenticides, fungicides and algaecides. Golf courses’ excuse is that some pesticides are necessary for them to apply because the turf has to be perfect and they are commercial enterprises, rather than homeowners’ private lawns! The use of pesticides on golf courses is therefore non-cosmetic! By the way, I am disgusted with the comments belittling Elizabeth May, who has more brains than all the males and females contributing to this blog combined and probably more brains than most of the Members of Parliament, including Prime Minister Harper.
Golf courses’ excuse is that some pesticides are necessary for them to apply because the turf has to be perfect and they are commercial enterprises, rather than homeowners’ private lawns! The use of pesticides on golf courses is therefore non-cosmetic!
O.K. I’m trying to understand that one.
The grass on golf courses must be perfect, but it is not cosmetic…
Yet pesticides are applied to achieve that ‘perfection’, and children and pregnant women walk on that grass, and touch it when they pick up their ball. And then they might have something to eat without washing their hands. But their exposure is o.k. because a commercial enterprise trumps health?
Pesticide application is deemed “cosmetic” by politicians if applied to homeowners’ lawns, i.e. unnecessary. Pesticides are deemed necessary on golf courses, where the turf has to be perfect–it doesn’t have to be perfect on homeowners’ lawns–a small minority of golf courses don’t use pesticides however. We conclude that politicians expect pregnant women and children to stay away from golf courses. However, I have a friend who used to live near a golf course and her twelve-year-old son died from cancer. She believes there was a connection. Obviously, it is unsafe for young children to live near golf courses! I am merely stating the government’s rationale for treating golf courses differently from homeowners’ property, without saying I approve or disapprove.
I am merely stating the government’s rationale for treating golf courses differently from homeowners’ property, without saying I approve or disapprove.
Thank you. I was afraid you were defending the political agenda.
So you obviously have some concerns about pesticide use on golf courses, and the effect that all that run-off could have on the water table and leaching into nearby creeks, etc.
Don’t kill the Rats or the Nutria. They are nature’s recycler.
I’m just watching a clip on Global National about a 5-year-old prodigy from western Canada who could be the next Tiger Woods. He can hit 100 yds already.
Something tells me his parents aren’t worrying about the pesticides that he’s going to be exposed to over his life time.
“By the way, I am disgusted with the comments belittling Elizabeth May, who has more brains than all the males and females contributing to this blog combined and probably more brains than most of the Members of Parliament, including Prime Minister Harper.”
How do you know that?
For all of the good intention and information that you were trying to supply, the above comment made you lose any credibility that you may have gained.
Disappointing and completely unprovable and uncalled for frankly.
*”City granted injunction to spray Christie Pits”
Pesticide wins.
But, the smell at hole 19 is awful.
*”The 80 tonnes of trash in the site will stay there until the end of the strike.”
Miller Mayor says, Piled Higher and Deeper, aka PHD, is good for him.
Thank goodness for Dow Chemical.
http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2009/07/04/10025006.html
Maz2, I just saw a report about that on CP 24. The injunction was granted against the wishes of the residents and the strikers due to maggot infestation.
But aren’t maggots nature’s way of taking care of garbage?
[...] And aren’t maggots just part of the circle of life? [...]
Bec apparently doesn’t like my belittling Tories, including Steven Harper, and says that I have compromised my credibility by saying that Elizabeth May is smarter than most of our parliamentarians. I maintain she is. I bet Bec doesn’t know that Elizabeth May was employed in the office of the Progressive Conservative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who apparently had a very high regard for her. Elementary decency dictates that she would not be called disrespectfully and stupidly “Lizzy, Greenie,” etc., as some bloggers were doing here.
Oh Lizzie’s smart alright. And the rest of us are stupid.