Rethink pesticide ban, Manitoba PC leader urges province

Manitobans may not be thinking about the weeds on their lawns this winter, but the province's Tory leader is urging the province now to rethink its cosmetic pesticide ban.

The NDP government has all but confirmed that a ban on the use of lawn pesticides for cosmetic purposes is in the works. It could be in effect as early as this spring.

But Progressive Conservative Leader Brian Pallister said Tuesday that it would be too soon to impose a ban.

"Such legislation can have far-reaching consequences in many different ways," Pallister told reporters in Winnipeg.

Even though the province has stressed that any restrictions on cosmetic pesticide use would apply to lawns and not farm land, Pallister said he worries a ban would still have negative effects on Manitoba's agricultural community.

Pallister said he's also concerned that a pesticide ban could result in more artificial turf fields.

Manitoba government officials said they are just listening to what people want, adding that more than 2,000 participants have given their feedback on the issue.