The "we" in that statement encompasses
anyone who has
anything to do with golf. Somewhere in the cacophony of news I'm sure you've heard that the provincial government has plans to create new legislation concerning pesticides (see:
Bill Bennett weighs in on cosmetic pesticides ). This topic exhausts me but it also gets me riled up (go to the Bill Bennett link and read the comments; especially the one by Agent_Whatever.....somebody you may know). It's hard not to appear as a single minded, uncaring, environmentally polluting, self interested capitalist when opposing a pesticide ban. I can appreciate peoples concerns but the debate has become entirely emotional and has turned into a pissing match between both sides and their experts. Both sides have arguments that support their view but as anybody over 30 or anyone who follows the news knows its all about how you present your facts.
Provincially the ball got rolling, I think, with the New Democrats proposing
bill M-203 (Cosmetic Pesticide and Carcinogen Control Act). Although
it was defeated, some of the points included were:
1.) banning pesticides use on non-residential areas
including institutional, industrial, commercial and recreational
properties.
2.) a 5 year
phase-out of pesticide use by golf courses
3.) allow municipalities to pass more restrictive bylaws
and, a contradiction that that kills me every time,
4.) does not apply to the agriculture or forestry industry!
I
am repeating myself, but if pesticides are so bad then why not an across the
board ban? Economics? Employment? Here is some stats about golf in British Columbia you're going to
see a few times:
- Golf contributes over $4
billion in gross production annually
- Golf employs nearly 50,000 people in BC.
- Tax revenue from golf exceeds $400 million annually
Here is a one fact no person can dispute and one that I promise will happen without pesticide use:
 |
Snow Mould Damage
on a Putting Green |
With the climate in our area the biggest disease issue is snow mould and the damage it causes. There is
no effective alternative to fungicides for snow mould control. There are numerous angles to debate but in politics it is numbers, financial and votes, that drive any governmental decision. Right now decisions are being made on assumptions that, for instance, information derived from an online survey in February 2010 is indicative of all British Columbians feelings towards a ban. That survey had 8000 respondents with 88% supporting a pesticide ban. The population of British Columbia in 2010 was 4.5 million. You need to go to this link
https://www.leg.bc.ca/pesticidescommittee/ before December 16th and answer the survey the way that best suits your beliefs. I hope to e-mail out some more information before the dead line to educate people. Remember, pesticides is a very broad category that includes more than just Weed 'N Feed and you need to understand what you're supporting, for or against, and the consequences of your choice or inaction.
