letter from LCAP - Pestiscide by-law passed 13 - 6.

I just received this yesterday.  The pesticide by-law is a go. 
I wonder what Trosow will do with all the extra time?



Today, Monday June 12, London's city council passed a pesticide by-law
to take effect in September 2008. The by-law passed by a wide margin
with thirteen voting for and six against.

Voting in favour of the by-law were, Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco,
Controller Gord Hume, and Councillors Judy Bryant, Ab Chahbar, Joni
Baechler, Fred Tranquilli, Bernie MacDonald, Bill Armstrong, Cheryl
Miller, Sandy White, David Winninger, Harold Usher, and Susan Eagle.

Voting against was Deputy Mayor Tom Gosnell, Controllers Russ Monteith
and Bud Polhill, and Councillors Rob Alder, Roger Caranci, and Paul
VanMeerbergen.

The only amendment to the by-law presented was an additional exemption
for sports fields.

There will be some who will argue that this by-law is not a compromise.
It is. The by-law does not take effect until September 2008 giving the
industry three summers, including the current season, of spraying and an
opportunity to investigate and adopt new ways of doing business.

For those who do or will suffer the negative impact of pesticides, it
means there will not be immediate relief. However, the light is at the
end of the tunnel and forward thinking businesses will begin adopting
alternatives and implementing new business models sooner in order to get
a head start on the competition.

I would like to thank the following people:

Those councillors who voted in favour of the by-law. It was argued the
debate over the by-law has been divisive and it was suggested it may
remain divisive. I think the divisions will heal quickly. By passing the
by-law a contentious issue has been removed from public debate and the
passions raised will subside as the next order of business turns to
education and implementing alternatives.

Controller Gord Hume for taking leadership on this issue. London is a
Creative City and this by-law will help persuade young Londoners to stay
and raise a family while attracting others looking for a home where
health and quality of life are priorities.

Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco who chose to champion this issue. She has shown
true leadership and strength of character in taking on this issue and
pushing it along to completion. Despite intense lobbying and pressure,
she did not waiver.

Judi Bryant, David Winninger, Susan Eagle, Harold Usher and Sandy White.
These councillors have always supported a ban and stood with us through
thick and thin. I would like to offer a special word of thanks to Joni
Baechler and Bill Armstrong. Wow. You guys are the best.

Laura Wall and Nathalie Noel of the Canadian Cancer Society and Gideon
Forman of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment.
They brought this forward again despite our reluctance. I am grateful
they did.

Sam Trosow who pushed the issue out of the abyss of committee meetings
and back onto the council floor.

John Pope, Sharon Abbasakoor, Patti Webber, Richard Yake, Maxine
Morrison, Hayley McPhail, Chris Gupta, Janice Howell, James Wagar,
everyone at TREA, Maureen Temme, and all those who have contributed so
much time and energy to LCAP over the years and please forgive me for
those names I've have missed.

Finally, all of you who have come to meeting, after meeting, after
meeting, who have remained on the LCAP list despite the many emails
resent for corrections, and who have always believed we could do this.
This is your by-law. Thank you.

Sean Hurley,
Chair,
LCAP.