It's a ban environment and health advocates have wanted for years and the Ontario government plans to take action to implement it just in time for Earth Day.
Premier Dalton McGuinty plans to introduce legislation Tuesday that would outlaw the cosmetic use and sale of pesticides. He arrived at a backyard press conference in a hybrid SUV to announce the move.
"It will be the toughest (ban) of its kind in North America. It will go beyond just lawns. It will go to school yards and playgrounds and the like," McGuinty said.
This provincial measure is aimed at replacing a patchwork of municipal pesticide bans, including the one currently in effect in Toronto.
"A lot of the municipalities have taken leadership, but we've gone further than that. We're not just banning the use, but also the sale of these products," Environment Minister Jim Gerretsen said.
A doctor at the press conference applauded the plan.
"Pediatricians are always concerned about any measures that are going to be beneficial for children's health. And I think nowadays, rather than waiting for diseases to happen, as physicians we're very interested in making things that are going to be preventive," said Dr. Yamashiro Hirotaka of the Ontario Medical Association.
Farmers and golf courses will be exempt from the ban. Growers receive training in the proper use of the chemicals and golf courses will have to show the province an outline of how they plan to reduce their use of pesticides in the future.
The Liberals had promised to ban pesticides in last fall's provincial election. Both the New Democrats and the Conservatives said they'd likely support the move, but both parties expressed concern over whether this was simply an attempt to grab headlines or whether this action will actually have a positive impact on the environment and people's health.
"If they bring forward legislation that has teeth in it, that's useful, then obviously we're going to be inclined to support it," NDP environment critic Peter Tabuns said. "But we don't know what they're bringing forward. We don't know if it's going to be useful or just simply fluff."
The Ontario College of Family Physicians says the long-term effects of exposure to pesticides can have a devastating effect on pregnant women and children, leading to birth defects, learning disabilities and a range of other health problems.
"What we're really talking about here is unnecessary risks to young children," Gerretsen said.
Not everyone supports the ban. Developers of pest control products say a province-wide ban goes too far, arguing that federal regulations are strong enough.
"We think it should be left to the experts at Health Canada. There are 553 scientists there that evaluate these products, and they say whether they can be used or not, whether they can be sold in Canada or not," Peter Macleod of Croplife Protection Chemistry pointed out.
Quebec was the first province to pass a law banning pesticides in 2003. The ban was fully implemented in 2006.
Ontario's ban will likely take effect next spring. So far, no penalties have been determined.
Tips on managing your lawn naturally
The health effects of pesticides