Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/319149
40 WESTERN CANADA TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION The Allied Golf Association of BC Environmental Advocacy Com- mittee met with BC Ministry of Environment staff May 7, 2014. In attendance were: Keith Lyall, Chair Dean Piller, BCGSA President Jerry Rousseau, WCTA Executive Director Daphne Dolhaine, Manager, Integrated Pest Management Section Gwen Lohbrunner, Provincial Pesticide Licence Officer The meeting was requested by Ministry of Environment staff as a follow-up to the April 30th, in-person meeting between AGA-BC rep- resentatives and the Minister of Environment, Mary Polak. As stated to the Environment Minister, it was explained to staff that golf course operators need some form of long-term certainty regard- ing access to federally regulated plant protection products. The term 'cosmetic use' does not apply as these products are integral to carrying on the business of golf. Understanding that a future change of government could mean changes to rules that govern use of these products, the BC golf indus- try wants to ensure golf courses are held to a very high standard of environmental stewardship so that unnecessary restrictive regulation is not imposed. It is seen by the committee as being advantageous to government, industry and the public, to govern our own members in this regard. To help achieve a high standard, a supplemental category of pesticide applicator certification has been suggested. While not a replacement for the current 'landscape' classification, an additional level of accreditation would ensure golf course personnel have been trained in criteria designed specifically for the use of pest control products on golf course grounds. Some examples of golf course specific training could include: • Use of fungicides • Re-entry intervals • Buffer zones • Use of wetting agents • Use of growth regulators It was suggested that a short, 30 minute exam could be developed based on a list of competencies put forward by the golf industry. An educational seminar could be designed as preparation for writing the test. Prerequisite is a valid landscape category pesticide certificate. Logistics questions arose such as: • Who handles the study material? • Who collects fees? • Is the seminar mandatory? How is it delivered? Who teaches these? • Who administers the test? • How often are the updates? The committee asked MOE staff if creating a 'golf certification' category would require a change to the laws or regulation. Answer – it would only require an internal policy change and there are already several other similar examples within other categories of pesticide certification. After some general discussion, the first step in the process was determined as follows: • The golf industry outlines competencies/standards for a supplemental PESTICIDE ISSUE NEWS WCTA STAFF SUMMARY OF MAY 7TH MEETING WITH MOE STAFF