LAWN RAGE - a Case for Change
In 1996, the Ontario Court of Justice ruled municipal Tall Grass and Weeds By-Laws to be void, invalid, unenforceable and in contravention of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which guarantees Freedom of Expression [Ref. Bell v. Toronto (City)].
Yet, the City of Mississauga Council "deems tall grass and weeds to be a public nuisance" and continues to enforce its Nuisance Weeds and Tall Grass Control By-Law 125-2017 on homeowner private property based solely on "Anonymous Neighbour Complaints".
As Canada's 29th "Bee City”, Mississauga’s stated commitment “to support pollinators and their habitats” and advising homeowners that, "By planting pollinator friendly plants in your garden you can help enhance habitat for insects that pollinate wildflowers and food crops", is self-contradictory virtue signaling when the City's Enforcement Division cites homeowners under By-Law 125-2017 for the wildlife-friendly tall grass and weeds growing on their property.
With Canada's hosting of COP15 in Montreal with a "focus on the urgent need for international partners to halt and reverse the alarming loss of biodiversity worldwide", the City of Mississauga's continued enforcement of By-Law 125-2017 is a failure of leadership in the current global CLIMATE and BIODIVERSITY CRISIS. At the grassroots level, it constitutes unwarranted harassment of homeowners trying to do their part as conscientious citizens.
It's way past time for Mississauga City Council to rescind its outdated, self-contradictory, arbitrary and illegal Nuisance Weeds and Tall Grass Control By-Law 125-2017.
LAWN RAGE - a Case for Change | SIGN and SHARE the Petition | GoFundMe.com
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Jeanne McRight - Founding President http://www.bloomingboulevards.org
ReplyDeleteMaster Gardener, focuses on biodiversity conservation, specializing in native plants, woodland restoration and naturalized landscaping.
“A well-illustrated narrative that provides good reasons for a by-law change, considering the discrepancies between city public spaces conservation policies vs. the regulations for residential neighbourhoods…”
“So hard to watch…”
Lorraine Johnson - https://lorrainejohnson.ca
“Lorraine Johnson has been one of the most constant and helpful advocates of putting native plants back into the garden.” (from the book A History of Canadian Gardening (Carol Martin, 2000)
Author of numerous books on growing native plants, gardening for pollinators, restoring habitat, and producing food in cities, community advocate, cultivation activist.
“… an incredible record. the mowing footage is something that is felt as the powerful violation it is, with the Monarch bearing witness … full of incredible moments…”
“… will go a long way to creating change--probably more than words…”
"This video should be required viewing for municipal officials and politicians, because it shows so eloquently the ecological costs of outdated (and destructive!) grass and weeds bylaws and property standards bylaws. I challenge anyone to watch the footage of an endangered species looking for habitat as that habitat is being mowed down by City officials without feeling sick and sad! Wolf Ruck has done us all a great service by documenting his experience with the Mississauga grass and weeds bylaw, and by presenting such reasoned and measured arguments for change!"
ReplyDelete~ Lorraine Johnson, author of numerous books on native plant habitat gardening www.lorrainejohnson.ca