Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/137861
wcta12jj--rev 6/18/13 11:58 AM done in one form or another. Albeit a close vote, the Union of British Columbia Municipalities has taken an antipesticide position and pressure on local government to enact pesticide bans continues to mount. With our resources consumed at the provincial lobbying level, there has been very little work toward advocacy at the, pardon the pun, grassroots level. Since early April 2013 With a strong existing communication network, the BCGSA and WCTA were able to set up a series of meetings throughout April and early May with local golf course superintendents, the purpose of which was to raise awareness, create a more formal understanding of the current challenges, determine how we collectively as a group should work together to press the government for informed decision making and to stimulate action with regard to the pesticide issue. General messages that came from golf course superintendents included: • AGA-BC needs to spearhead pesticide issue advocacy at the provincial level • Summary of talking points are needed from AGA for individual golf courses to take on advocacy efforts Page 1 • Local superintendents are willing to work on the pesticide issue (with local government) but want guidance and resources from AGA • Superintendents want to know what action AGA-BC is planning • Superintendents strongly suggest the golf industry engages a professional lobbyist Prior to the election, the BC Golf Superintendents Association and the WCTA, based on feedback from the regional superintendent meetings, began soliciting funds from regional superintendent chapters for the purpose of hiring a government relations firm to help advocate this issue. On May 1st, the BCGSA Northern Chapter became the first group to contribute to the fund in the amount of $3000. The provincial board of the BCGSA put forward $5000 the next day, the Interior BCGSA $7000 a week later and on May 10th, the WCTA Board committed $20,000. All contributions were put forward at regularly scheduled meetings and we await meetings of the other BCGSA chapters for decisions on their respective contributions to the fund. The Canadian Golf Superintendents Association is also being solicited for financial support of this initiative. At the most recent AGA-BC meeting held May 21st, the BCGSA and WCTA presented the fund to the golf industry consortium and encouraged all AGABC member organizations to communicate the importance of funding golf industry advocacy efforts to their respective memberships. Work toward engaging a professional lobbyist has begun by establishing specific advocacy tasks including: • Continue building relationships with all MLA's, Ministers and the Premier to ensure our position is maintained • Help organize events for industry representatives to meet with provincial politicians • Ensure we are 'plugged in' with the consultation on establishment and implementation of new pesticide use regulations • Maintain our current resource material, ie. briefing document sent to Special Committee and modify/create additional resources as need to assist local personnel in their lobby efforts, ie Summary of Talking Points, Calls to Action • To help liaise with special interest groups like the Canadian Cancer Society • To communicate our position to the UBCM and municipal governments throughout the province Current AGA-BC President Trevor Smith stated, "Lobbying is just as much about building relationships as it is presenting our case and we would benefit by building and maintaining relationships with all MLA's including new Liberals and the official opposition." From a turf industry perspective, we should have our information not only in the hands of every provincial MLA, but every municipal government in the province as well explaining our position, rationale and economic, social and environmental benefits of the turf industry. Accomplishing this is much easier said than done however, as it requires mobilizing an entire industry made up of a variety of sectors. A professional lobby firm will go a long way toward making this happen and help prepare us for other issues that may arise. It is encouraging to see the different groups coming together to establish a significant financial resource and is a milestone achievement without precedent in this province. WESTERN CANADA TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 33