The Ministry of the Environment has made amendments to Regulation 914
under The Pesticides Act concerning the supervision of assistants to certified growers
(certified agriculturists). The amendments are the result of extensive preliminary discussions
with grower groups, and consultation with stake-holders through the Environmental Bill of Rights
Environmental Registry.
The amendments allow assistant agriculturists (grower's assistants) who have successfully
completed a course offered through Ridgetown College, University of Guelph on basic pesticide
safety and handling, to mix, load and apply Schedule 2 or 5 pesticides on the certified
agriculturist's farm land, under direct or indirect supervision of the certified agriculturists,
with the following restrictions:
- A trained assistant to a certified agriculturist can use Schedule 2 or 5 pesticides only
under direct supervision (i.e., the certified agriculturist is present at the site at
all times during mixing, loading and applying) or under indirect supervision
if the certified agriculturist:
- is available for immediate response through an effective communication system (e.g., cell
phone/two way radio) and
- can be present within a reasonable period of time to respond to an emergency situation
and
- provides written instruction to the assistant agriculturist for mixing, loading and using
of Schedule 5 pesticides.
Previous amendments to regulation 914 require, as of January 1, 2000, that all growers'
assistants attend training courses provided through Ridgetown College, University of Guelph.
The course for grower assistants provides basic training on the safe use of Schedule 2 and 5
pesticides, with emphasis on protection of the environment and human health.
Other revisions to Regulation 914 effective April 2000 include:
- the stipulation that a certified grower may only supervise a maximum of three assisitant
agriculturists
- the stipulation that certified agriculturists and assistant agriculturists must be at
least 16 years of age.
- the definition of farm land as land that is classified under section 7 of the
Assessment Act, 1990.
These amendments were requested by grower groups, including AGCare, which represents more then
45,000 growers through its 16 member groups, and have been made to ensure regulations that are
in tune with modern farming practices.
The changes will enhance grower adherence to the environmental legislation, and encourage
training of all individuals who apply agricultural pesticides in Ontario.
