MINUTES – PUBLIC – ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE COMMITTEE (CELCC)

Status report on the outdoor pesticide regulation – Presentation

The presentation of the status report on the outdoor pesticide regulation is carried out by the Division Head of Environmental Control of the Service de l’eau et des matières résiduelles (SEMR), Vincent Paquette. He is accompanied by the Director of the SEMR, Chantal Marcotte, as well as the coordinator of the Brigade verte, David Sicotte.

The objectives of the presentation are to provide a portrait of the first year of regulatory application and to present various suggested amendments to Bylaw 955-2024 concerning the sale and outdoor application of pesticides as well as the supervision of the work of contractors offering this type of service. The presentation is provided for information purposes. It is part of the objectives of file 5 of the Commission's 2026 Work Plan, which is to receive an update regarding the application of the regulation after one year.

The presentation plan is structured as follows: impacts and issues; status report; and actions and deadlines. The SEMR management recalls that the teams have worked intensively on the application of the regulation. A good rate of progress is observed and a significant amount of data has been collected, allowing for a better understanding of the starting point, the current situation, and the outlook.

It is specified that the glossary uses the definition of pesticides according to the regulation. The elements identified in red in the presentation signal inconsistencies or aspects that required modifications. It is specified that the regulation was adopted on April 16, 2024, and applied in 2025. The year of application was marked by an additional challenge, namely the amendment to the Code de gestion des pesticides du Québec.

Four components are addressed in the presentation: contractors applying pesticides; retail sales; golf courses; and citizens. Amendments to the regulation, proposed by the Department, are presented for information to the members. It is specified that these amendments aim solely at regulatory application as well as the clarification and coherence of the regulation. The Department specifies that although a certain desire to revise the list of authorized and prohibited pesticides has been expressed to the Commission previously, this element will be the subject of a Phase II. The current objective is to make the regulation coherent and applicable for the current summer season.

The impacts of the regulation are presented, notably the improvement of environmental quality, the protection of well-being and health, as well as the documentation of pesticide use in the territory. After a first year of application, the City has a more precise portrait. However, the regulation presents application challenges, identified in seven main issues. The main interventions related to the regulation concern the management of contractors, the inspection of businesses, the monitoring of pesticide reduction plans for golf courses, and the management of citizen requests.

Component 1 – Contractors

The City indicates that it has identified contractors likely to work in Gatineau, including those located outside the territory. More than 60 letters were sent, 13 of which led to the obtaining of a registration certificate. It is specified that the infractions noted gave rise to reports. Contractors were required to transmit their application register, which will be subject to improvements in order to standardize the data. A file template will now be provided as an appendix to the regulation.

In 2025, 23,497 pesticide applications were documented in Gatineau. Among these: 6.4% are biopesticides; 93.6% are synthetic pesticides, mainly dicamba; a very small proportion concerns prohibited active ingredients without exception. It is recalled that glyphosate is prohibited in the territory of Gatineau, but remains accessible elsewhere, which constitutes a challenge. Meteorological conditions also represent a significant issue. It is mentioned, as an example, that 73.8% of the time, in 2025, spraying was unauthorized due to the conditions currently provided for in the regulation. Consequently, several applications were carried out outside the permitted periods. Thus, amendments are proposed concerning meteorological conditions, notably the adjustment of temperature and wind thresholds, while requiring compliance with the indications written on the product's safety data sheet. It is recalled that applicators must be trained and have access to the sheets during interventions. A standardized Excel file will be provided to contractors to facilitate data compilation.

Component 2 – Businesses

Two scenarios were analyzed, namely in-store purchase and online purchase with in-store pickup. The businesses were visited and no products containing glyphosate were observed on the shelves. Some active ingredients were however noted. It is indicated that the current regulation limits the power of intervention. Online purchase with in-store pickup in Gatineau constitutes an infraction if the product is prohibited. Other proposed amendments are presented, including the clarification of potential conditions for products prohibited from sale.

Component 3 – Golf Courses

Certain specific provisions apply to golf courses, including reduction plans covering the 2024-2026 period. These take into account the health risk index (HRI) and the environmental risk index (ERI). Out of the 11 golf courses in Gatineau: an average decrease of 11.7% in health risk is observed; a decrease of 10.2% in environmental risk is observed. The regulation provided for obtaining Audubon certification, a requirement specific to Gatineau. However, it is noted that this certification covers a broader spectrum than pesticide use and that it does not guarantee a reduction in their use. Two golf courses have held this certification since before the regulation came into force, and their pesticide use is higher than that of the others. It is proposed to remove this requirement and to favor the implementation of environmentally responsible management practices aimed at reducing pesticide use.

Component 4 – Citizens

A total of ten requests were processed in 2025, including requests for information and intervention. Some interventions concerned neighborhood situations. It is mentioned that one report concerned a Roundup-type product, for which an ecological version based on vinegar may have caused confusion. Proposed amendments include broadening the definition of 'undesirable plants' and the possibility of using biopesticides based on common consumer substances. This practice is encouraged, considering that biopesticides represent less than 6% of applications. A question of clarification is asked regarding the use of biopesticides by contractors (example of garlic powder). It is specified that these products will be permitted, whether they are approved or not, if they are based on common consumer substances. It is indicated that this orientation aims to encourage solutions that do not rely on synthetic molecules.

Next Steps

It is indicated that the City is at Phase 1, namely the approval of the amendments proposed by the City Council in May 2026. A Phase II is planned surrounding the question of the lists of authorized and prohibited pesticides. To support this process, scientific support from the Comité scientifique de la Ville de Gatineau has been requested, notably through a research chair. A recommendation is expected around December. This process will allow for the possible submission of amendment proposals in the winter of 2027 for the 2027 season, if necessary. Subject to reservations, the planned steps include:

• July: receipt of the scientific opinion;
• September: analysis and preparation of a recommendation;
• Winter 2027: presentation of a progress report to the Commission and determination of orientations.