NDP Environment critic Peter Tabuns today urged the McGuinty government to abide by the wishes of Ontarians and agree to phase out pesticides on Ontario golf courses.

A new poll of 741 Ontario residents has found that 68% support a phase-out of golf course pesticide use.

“Spraying of pesticides on golf courses is dangerous to golf course workers and players alike - and it is simply unnecessary,” said Tabuns. “The vast majority of Ontarians want the government to do the right thing and close the loophole in the Cosmetic Pesticide Ban Act which allows the continued application of pesticides to golf course greens,”

The government is expected to release regulations for the Act at the end of September. A range of environmental, health and medical groups are calling for the government to ensure that the regulations end golf course pesticide use.

There is a significant body of research showing links between use of certain pesticides on golf courses, such as 2,4-D, and cancer in humans and wildlife.

While more and more golf courses in Canada are going pesticide-free, the vast majority of Ontario’s 800 golf courses still use pesticides. 2,4-D -- widely used on golf courses -- is banned by Denmark, Norway, and Sweden because of health and environmental concerns.