City pesticide ban lost in translation

By Sandra Thomas-Staff writer

Walking up and down the pathway leading to a residence near Queen Elizabeth Park, two workers wearing coveralls, white paper masks over their mouths and canisters strapped to their backs, sprayed along the sidewalk edge.

Using the wand attached to the canisters, the pair shot a steady stream of liquid along the edge of the immaculately manicured lawn.

When the Courier reporter approached the workers to ask if they are aware of the recent bylaw banning the use of pesticides within the city, both workers shrugged their shoulders and said "No English."

The man and woman had a white van parked a few feet away where more landscaping equipment was stored, but the vehicle had no sign identifying it with a company name or phone number.

As of Jan. 1 the city banned pesticides for private and commercial use in Vancouver. But Nick Losito, regional director of health protection for Vancouver Coastal Health, said the city is still having information about the ban translated into four languages for non-English speaking residents.

"We're having it translated to Chinese, Punjabi, Korean and Vietnamese," said Losito. "Our standard four. It's taking longer than usual because we used to have an in-house translator, but we don't anymore."

The city banned all products registered under the federal Pest Control Products Act used for directly or indirectly controlling, destroying, attracting, repelling or preventing the effects of pests, including pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. The main offenders are products containing the pesticides 2,4-D, diazonium, and glyphosates. And while many pesticides are still available to purchase locally, their application is now illegal. Exceptions to the new bylaw include products used to disinfect swimming pools, control termites, control or destroy a health hazard, control or destroy damaging pests that have infested property, for rodent control, wood preservatives, products used within an enclosed building, insecticide bait enclosed in a proper manufacturers' packaging and insect repellent for personal use.

The translated versions of this information will soon be available at community centres, neighhbourhood houses and on the city's website.

Despite the lag in translating information about the ban, Losito said the city's environmental health office has received only one complaint a week regarding people ignoring the ban.

"But we don't know if that's because people are complying or just aren't aware of the ban," he said.

He said people who don't comply should be reported. Those ignoring the ban will be given a warning on their first offence, but repeat offenders will be tracked and can face fines between $100 to $2,000. A typical fine would be between $300 and $500.

published on 07/12/2006