There should be a borad…

There should be a borad exemption for municipalities but ONLY where the municipality has registered an Integrated Pest Management Plan or policy with the Ministry that specifies whom (what position) is responsible. The use of pesticides should still be a last resort, but that last resort should consider economic, financial, technical and efficacy matters. Often municipalities find their hands tied - mainly through budget and resource issues. That won't change any time soon. So let's see a registered IPM plan for each municipality to follow that provides transparency and accountability for use of pesticides where necessary. Staff training must be part of it - no point specifying treatments after the pest or disease has left, but so often things are not prescribed in a timely way. Thistles and giant hogweed sprayed after flowering, for example, is no good to anyone.

Cosmetic and aesthetic reasons should not be a driving factor. But safety and sight-lines could be.