A report by a committee of B.C. MLAs that recommended against a provincewide ban on cosmetic pesticides comes as a big disappointment to Barry Avis.
The former Qualicum Beach councillor and NDP nominee in the Parksville-Qualicum constituency was a prime mover in the drive to ban the products in the community.
“I am disappointed in the outcome and decision,” he said.
“The recommendations do not go far enough to protect health and the environment and the status quo recommendations by the current government are not adequate.”
Avis said there has been considerable public interest and concern pointing out that the cosmetic use of pesticides poses an unnecessary health risk to children, pets and the water supply.
A ban on cosmetic pesticides has been urged by the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Toxic Free Canada, the David Suzuki Foundation, and The Union of B.C. Municipalities.
However, Liberal MLA Bill Bennett, who co-chaired the committee looking into the issue, said the majority of the committee did not feel the evidence warranted a ban.