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e pesticide "hot potato" has been tossed back to I Waterloo city council, which will now look into the possibility of implementing a year- round ban. This comes after Waterloo regional council decided last week not to make Waterloo the site of a pilot project for a pesticide ban, . "We'll just carry forward and find another option and work together as a community," said Mayor Brenda Halloran about the region's decisipn. Pesticide ban tossed back to Waterloo council This pilot project called for a more restrictive law than the existing regional pesticide reduction bylaw that prohibits pesticide use in July and August, with agricultural use being exempt from the ruling. bot treatment for Races in infested areas is also allowed under this bylaw. which came into effect in January 2007 and is up for review in 2009: - Regional council said Waterloo is free to enact its own bylaw though, said Hal- Ioran, who doesnt use pesti- cides at her home. “I thought (the pilot proj- ect) might have been some- thing they would be willing to look at because there is strong support in Waterloo to have a year-long ban, but I certainly understand the position they're taking as well." Regional councillor lane _ M"- -, .._._V_-, Mitchell said there was little discussion on the issue. "They didn't want to go there, so they tossed the hot potato back to Waterloo council," she said. Although she backed the proposed pilot project, Mitchell predicted it likely wouldn't garner support from her fellow councillors because the regional ruling is so new and won't be reviewed until 2009, among others. "I'm getting calls frdm people who are against a year-long ban and who are for a year-long ban, and to me this is a community decision, it's not a council decision." Halloran said. _ The majority of calls she's receiving favour the ban, which she attributes to how conscious residents are about the erwi- ronment, coupled with the fact some are experiencing health problems because of pesticides. The debate will now comé back to city council's cham- hers. where community discussion? will take place. weirrue talk about waikirig through neighbourhoods and smelling the chemicals. and they're reacting to them," she said. llalluran is also considering proposing the pilot project to Premier Dalmn McGuinty, who campaigned on a province- wide pesticide ban. And that's a move that Mitchell supports. "l think that's the way to go now," she said. "The province, in the recent election. has promised to have a pesticide han. "So/certainty, phone them up and remind them of their promise and see if you can get a pilot project that way" By lemma: Gammon Chronicle Stuff __ "People talk about walking through neighbourhoods and smelling the chemicals, and they're reacting to them." - Brenda Hallomn Mayor ofWaterlbo CITY NEWS A rally for the Part-Canadian Day of Action Against d; War in Afghanistan drew about 75 people to the Wilfrid Laurier Uni- versity campus on Saturday afternoon. Amy Filsinger, 18. was one of the people who took part in the event, which was organ- ized by a community group called Anti-WarOLaurier. KNNWER DRMSTON mm Tg local charities are benefiting from a gourmet walking tour around Waterloo's uptown. For $60 each, more than 200 diners nibbled on beef ten- derloin. gourmet pizza and salads during the mid-Septenr her tour of six local restaurants, which donated the food. drinks and slum ng costs. The funds mild - totalling more than $13,000 -- were divided equally among the Food Bank ofWatcrloo Region and Rig Brothers, Big Sisters' Camp McGovern last Wednes- dam "r/s a very exciting amount. and we can do a lot with it," said Wendi Campbell, the executive director of the local food ban, em: UpTown Dining tour helps local charities in every dollar we raise. we can distribute $8 worth of gency food. ky it really helps with our operating costs, to keep the BY JENNIFER 0mmn - _cAroriiclt Staff 1llltflNItl Give peace a chance trucks on the road. to keep hydro in the building." Started by the ttirowi, Bissiness lmpmvemém Area four years ago, UpTown Dining is an annual fundraising event that always, supports lpca! charlties. “We've long been looking for a way to give back to the community because we are a not-for-prom organization ourselves. And this is a great way." said Patti Brooks, the executive director of the BIA. Along with raising money, the tour encourages people to walk around the city's core, sh't said. "We love people to experience uptown Waterloo and a lot of these people have never eaten in uptown Waterloo before." Diners are divided into six groups that travel together. stopping at each of the six participating restaurants: Han- nah's Tapas Bar and Lounge, Lucy's Seafood Kitchen. McMullan's on King. Rude Native Bistro, Salute and Sole Restaurant and Wine Bar. WAT kRLUU CHRONICLE . Wednesday October )1 Continued on page 6 2007-3