Pesticides

What is a pesticide?

A pesticide is a substance or mixture of substances designed to prevent, destroy, repel or control harmful organisms. These organisms can include insects, weeds, fungi, bacteria or any other organism that threatens agricultural crops, forests or animals. 

Types of pesticides

Pesticides fall into several categories, depending on the pests they target:

• Insecticides: insects;
• Herbicides: weeds;
• Fungicides: fungi and moulds;
• Rodenticides: rodents (rats, mice);
• Acaricides: mites;
• Bactericides: bacteria.

Why is this prohibited?

Since the adoption of municipal By-Law PC-2865, no neonicotinoid pesticides may be applied on the City’s territory. These systemic pesticides, with low levels of biodegradability, are known to be toxic to many insects, such as earthworms and pollinators. In fact, monarch butterflies, bees and earthworms sometimes die or dig fewer tunnels if they have been exposed to these pesticides. Earthworm tunnels aerate the soil, speed up the decomposition of organic matter, and help plants grow, while pollinators are crucial to maintaining biodiversity. Birds and reptiles can also suffer from the use of neonicotinoids, either by feeding on seeds sprayed with pesticides or because the insects that are part of their diet are fewer in number.

Excessive or inappropriate use of pesticides can also have negative impacts on the environment (soil, water and air pollution), as well as on human health (acute toxicity or long-term effects).

Soil contamination

Pesticides, especially persistent ones, can accumulate in soils and remain there for a long time. This alters the soil’s chemical composition and affects the micro-organisms essential to its fertility.

Water contamination

Pesticides can also be washed into rivers, lakes and oceans, contaminating and affecting aquatic ecosystems, causing ecological imbalances and poisoning aquatic fauna.

Effects on insects and biodiversity

Pesticides, especially insecticides, can kill beneficial insects like bees, butterflies and ladybugs. This disrupts the pollinators essential to plant reproduction and affects food chains.

Herbicides can eliminate non-target plants, reducing plant diversity. This has cascading effects on the animals that depend on these plants for food and reproduction.

Some persistent pesticides (such as organochlorines) accumulate in living organisms and become concentrated as they move up the food chain. Apex predators, such as birds of prey and marine mammals, are particularly affected.

Impacts on human health

Direct exposure to pesticides can cause acute effects, such as irritation, nausea or severe poisoning.

The general public may consume pesticide residues on fruit, vegetables and grains. Prolonged exposure, even at low levels, is linked to chronic diseases, such as certain cancers, hormonal disorders and neurological problems.

What other options are available? 

Using alternative solutions means less pollution of our environment and helps protect pollinators, non-target species and human health.

Biopesticides

Organic pesticides are produced from natural substances and have a reduced impact on the environment.

Plant extracts

Neem oil and natural pyrethrum are derived from plants with insecticidal or fungicidal properties.

Mineral substances

Mineral substances such as kaolinite clay prevent insects from landing on plants.

Pheromones

Used to disrupt insect reproduction (sexual confusion) or to attract pests to traps.

Follow the regulations

The use or application of pesticides outside of buildings is prohibited in Pointe-Claire. Violators can be fined from $500 to $4,000.

However, certain exceptions can be granted for their use. A permit issued by the City is required in the following cases:

• if the infestation is not in a sensitive area (paragraph 2 of By-Law PC-2865);
• to control vermin within a 5-metre radius of warehouses and food processing and pharmaceutical plants;
• to control ants at the base of a building and on a 30-centimetre strip around it;
• for golf courses and lawn bowling greens: owners may use pesticides under certain conditions, concerning in particular the proximity of watercourses and weather conditions. One section of the By-Law is devoted to golf courses and lawn bowling greens.

A permit is not required for the use of biopesticides. The use of biopesticides, like all other pesticides, is subject to the standards of the federal government’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency and the Pesticide Management Code, according to provincial regulation, and signs must be posted to warn of its use.

Apply for a permit

Before applying for a permit, please consult By-Law PC-2865 – Respecting the use of pesticides in the territory of the City of Pointe-Claire.

A temporary pesticide use permit is valid for 14 days from the date of issue.