As someone who is a licensed…

As someone who is a licensed Landscape Pesticide Exterminator and has worked for the government under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, I wholeheartedly support this regulation. I know that the establishment of electronic systems has caused headaches and hassle with certain aspects of the government, such as the Phoenix Pay system and the application process using paper documents. But I feel this is a necessary step in the right direction into modernizing our government. Having an electronic database allows for easier access to records on top of having a backup should any paper records be lost. It will also lead to a less wasteful government since paper will not be relied on as much. Turnaround time for licensing and renewal will also be improved due to the use of email and other electronic systems. It took me weeks to get my license due to the use of regular mail. This transparency to the public is also a great thing because pesticide users can have a large impact on water and other important environmental resources. This will help to make those who use pesticides to be accountable for any problems that may happen and will encourage them to use pesticides responsibly. That’s not to say that these paper records will not be useful. There will be a transition period that may slow down the system a bit. I think the greatest benefit to these amendments is establishment of these electronic databases for use in with other programs. If this database is successful, then it can be applied to many other licensing programs as well. It licensing more accessible for those who want to get certified, such as those in remote areas. The same goals that were set out for these pesticides can also be applied to other licensing programs such as those under the Ontario Water Wastewater Certification Office.

[Original Comment ID: 212458]