The Editor,
Re: Pesticide ban on the way in Coquitlam, Tri-City News, July 6
Three years, two denied motions and hundreds of petitions later, Coquitlam is finally getting a draft cosmetic pesticide bylaw.
Has council finally come to its senses and decided that maybe public health and protecting our environment do matter or is it an election year? I am quite certain it is the latter.
In the past three years, the majority of council, not once, but twice denied residents the right to have a public information session about the issue of cosmetic pesticides. While I also did not appreciate their uninformed reasons for not supporting a ban, including the need to control the bee population and the pine beetle, I find it most appalling that our elected officials voted against public engagement.
Nonetheless, I am pleased we are that much closer to a cosmetic pesticide ban, but will ensure come election day that I vote for leaders who consider the community's needs before corporations.
Jane Thomsing
Coquitlam
