Cosmetic pesticide changes will 'empower' municipalities

P.E.I. municipalities may soon be able implement their own cosmetic pesticide bans.

The Minister of Municipal Affairs Wes Sheridan says he will table legislative amendments this fall.

This comes after several municipalities, including Charlottetown, Stratford and Cornwall, all passed resolutions asking the province to do this. Sheridan says a similar request also came from the Federation of P.E.I. Municipalities.

"Well I think it's important to empower these municipalities to do what they feel is right with their constituencies. They know them well, they have the opportunity to talk to them every day about how far they would like to go, and how restrictive it would be," he said.

P.E.I. brought in province-wide cosmetic pesticide regulations in 2010, but those have been criticized for not going far enough.

Every municipality in the province will have the option of enacting its own regulations, however, municipalities will be responsible for policing them, provincial environment officers won't be involved, said Sheridan.              

All three mayoral candidates in Charlottetown have said they support a more restrictive cosmetic pesticide ban for the city.