Brewing electoral brawl spawned by pesticide battle

Tue, April 25, 2006

By JOE BELANGER, FREE PRESS CITY HALL REPORTER



A new battle has opened for the hearts and minds of London voters in the fall civic election, spawned by the debate over a pesticide ban.

The showdown is between two citizens' groups claiming grassroots backing -- Imagine London, which pushed for a new electoral map for the city, and a nameless newcomer group that was born out of industry opposition to a ban on pesticide use.

A lobbyist for the lawn-care industry announced yesterday a new website and an ad blitz urging voters to get involved or lose control of the city to a "small activist group."

"The battle over (pesticides) is, in reality, a fight over who will control city council and thereby the City of London," said John Matsui.

The move falls on the heels of news that other citizens' groups, including Imagine London, have banded together to field a slate of candidates in the Nov. 13 election.

"We're not putting together a counter slate," Matsui said last night at city hall.

Matsui said he launched the website (www.londonproperty rights.ca) with the support and funding of a few "like-minded" people, including the lawn-care industry.

The site focuses mainly on the issue of pesticides and property rights.

Curiously, that message was echoed last night by Coun. Paul Van Meerbergen, chairperson of council's environment and transportation committee, who opposes a pesticide ban.

Van Meerbergen angered committee members when he snidely welcomed Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco to a debate on pesticides.

"Thank you for attending your third committee meeting in two years to lead us toward the trampling of homeowners' property rights," Van Meerbergen said.

Coun. Bill Armstrong quickly demanded an apology, but Van Meerbergen refused.

DeCicco supports a ban and has said she will attend committee meetings to ensure the issue is dealt with.

"I would hope you would respect me not only as the mayor, but as a member of the community on this or any other issue," DeCicco said.

Matsui said the website's focus on pesticides "will evolve" to include other issues as the election nears.

"What we are doing is highlighting the issues for people, how members of council voted. It's about hypocrisy," he said.

"And we're telling people, 'Smarten up, London, or this may not be the London you want.' "

Matsui's announcement clearly refers to the London Coalition Against Pesticides and Imagine London, which was successful in having a new 14-ward electoral map drawn for the November civic election.

"This small activist group and a faction they control on city council have already had the electoral map of London redrawn to their political advantage," Matsui said.

The move was dismissed by Imagine London spokesperson Stephen Turner, a Ward 6 candidate.

Turner said the fact Imagine London and the coalition share some of the same membership is "coincidental."

But he agreed pesticides will become an election issue "if council doesn't deal with it."

"This is not like the federal or provincial governments where you get left, centre and right wings," Turner said.

Matsui, a Liberal, refused to describe the battle as between the political left and right.

"I'd say this is between people with extreme views and those with moderate views."