Calgary Pesticides Policy

The document outlines the health risks associated with cosmetic pesticides and advocates for the City of Calgary to adopt restrictive policies similar to those in other Canadian jurisdictions. It highlights failures in federal oversight by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) and cites multiple systematic reviews linking pesticides to cancers, neurological deficits, and reproductive issues, particularly in children. CAPE notes that seven provinces and 180 municipalities have already implemented such bans, with evidence from Toronto and Ontario showing significant reductions in pesticide use and water contamination. An Alberta-specific poll indicated that 62% of residents support phasing out all but the safest pesticides for lawns and gardens.

• The federal Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has been criticized for inadequate oversight, including slow re-evaluation of older pesticides, failure to assess cumulative health effects, and neglecting the 10-fold safety factor for children and infants.
• Multiple systematic reviews link pesticide exposure to various cancers, including leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, as well as neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and ALS.
• Children and pregnant women are identified as particularly vulnerable, with pesticide exposure associated with low birth weights, congenital defects, and neuro-developmental deficits.
• As of 2016, seven Canadian provinces and 180 municipalities have laws prohibiting certain cosmetic pesticides on private property, but Alberta is one of only three provinces without a provincial law for this purpose.
• Restrictive pesticide laws have proven effective in reducing environmental contamination and usage; for example, Toronto saw a 57% decrease in residential lawn pesticide use, and Ontario saw reductions of over 80% for 2,4-D, dicamba, and MCPP in water bodies.
• Public opinion in Alberta shows strong support for regulation, with nearly 70% of surveyed residents believing cosmetic pesticides threaten children and pets, and 62% supporting a provincial phase-out of all but the safest pesticides.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (2016). Calgary Pesticides Policy. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/5.Calgary-Pesticides-Let-Dec2016-1.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Calgary Pesticides Policy. 2016. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/5.Calgary-Pesticides-Let-Dec2016-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Calgary Pesticides Policy |date=31 January 2016 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/5.Calgary-Pesticides-Let-Dec2016-1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironment2016calgary, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Calgary Pesticides Policy}}, publisher = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2016}, month = jan, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/5.Calgary-Pesticides-Let-Dec2016-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }