Press Release: Doctors Applaud Markham Pesticide Bylaw

TORONTO—The Town of Markham’s new pesticide bylaw will protect over a quarter-of-a-million people from toxic lawn products, says the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE).
The bylaw’s passage means 4 million Ontario residents now live in communities which have pesticide restrictions.
The legislation, which was passed by Town Council last night, will help reduce the risk of serious illness, especially among children, says CAPE Executive Director Gideon Forman.
“Doctors are just delighted that Markham has passed this strong bylaw,” says Forman. “The science shows pesticides are linked to cancers, birth defects, and neurological disease. By phasing-out toxic lawn products, Markham is taking a crucial step toward preventing these tragedies.”
Major health organizations -- including the Canadian Cancer Society, the Ontario College of Family Physicians, and the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario -- supported the bylaw’s passage.
“It was a wonderful collaborative effort which brought together health authorities, civic leaders, and Markham residents. Many local citizens had been working on this campaign for a decade. We were very pleased that we could bring the doctors’ voice to the table.”
During the course of the campaign, CAPE appeared before Markham council to explain pesticides’ health effects; published an article outlining the science; and commissioned a professional pollster to survey citizens’ views. The poll found 76% favour a pesticide phase-out on private residential property.