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July 14, 2015 - 8:00 PM
KAMLOOPS – Next year residents of Kamloops will no longer be able to hire licensed applicators to spray their lawns or ornamental shrubs.
A ban on cosmetic pesticide use was passed today, July 14, in city council to a round of applause from those who remained in council chambers for the decision.
The proposed ban, which will see a complete ban on all cosmetic pesticide use even by licensed applicators, was brought forward by Coun. Tina Lange last month and Coun. Arjun Singh suggested tabling the motion to give council more time to gather information.
As the deciding vote, Singh was the last piece in the proposed bylaw puzzle. While other councillors had made their positions known prior to the vote, Singh was the remaining holdout.
He jokingly admitted he wished he had an excuse not to be present today because he was the sway vote in the motion, which passed five to four in favour of the ban.
Nearly every councillor said they had received multiple emails and calls from concerned residents on both sides of the debate. The gallery was packed today, as it was on June 2 when the motion first came forward, prompting Mayor Peter Milobar to close public inquiries to the pesticide debate to avoid the slightly unruly and lengthy procession that occurred in June.
After the vote, talk turned to taking the motion further. This ban applies to residential spaces and Coun. Singh proposed an amendment to extend it to include municipal or city spaces as well. Coun. Pat Wallace suggested tabling that debate until a later date, to be decided in October.
Coun. Donovan Cavers also put forth an amendment that instead of the ban being effective immediately, it be implemented Jan. 1, 2016. He felt this was fair to both residents and businesses alike that must now alter their current practices. The amendment passed immediately.
Councillors in favour: Cavers, Lange, Singh, Dieter Dudy and Denis Walsh.
Councillors opposed: Milobar, Wallace, Ken Christian and Marg Spina.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Dana Reynolds at dreynolds@infonews.ca or call 250-819-6089. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015