Dear Sir or Madam: I am the…

Dear Sir or Madam:
I am the Episcopal Director of Administrative Services for the Roman Catholic Diocese of London. We own and operate 77 cemeteries throughout southwestern Ontario. I am writing in opposition to the proposal to allow cemeteries to be exempt from the cosmetic pesticide ban. In other words, we do not want to start spraying again.
In the past, when we did spray our cemeteries they may have looked more aesthetically pleasing. When the ban was first enacted, we received complaints about weeds and we explained we are no longer able to spray. Eventually visitors have become accustomed to new expectations.
Prior to the ban, when we did spray, we were often approached by neighbors expressing concern since many of our cemeteries are beside residential areas and families were concerned for their children and pets.
Pope Francis has also called us to care for the environment through his encyclical, Laudato Si. We feel that this little step of using no pesticides helps us to be part of a growing movement to preserve our earth.
If the ban is removed for cemeteries, we will be pressured to start using cosmetic pesticides once again.
I implore you to reconsider this proposal to exempt cemeteries from cosmetic pesticide use. We do not want this exemption.
I am sending this response from the Diocese of London. This is not a personal response. I have the authority to bind the Corporation. I noticed below that there is no option for me to check. The only options are to submit on behalf of a client or myself. I will check off on behalf of a client.
Yours truly,
David Savel
Episcopal Director of Administrative Services
Diocese of London (The Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of the Diocese of London in Ontario)
1070 Waterloo Street
London, Ontario
N6A 3Y2
519-433-0658