Weed killers can now be used by Parks Canada staff in the town of Jasper. This follows a unanimous 6-0 decision made at Jasper town council’s June 8 meeting.

Killing weeds in Jasper with herbicides will likely begin this summer, pending any major developments.

According to Parks officials, the spraying will not happen in a blanket fashion and will only be done in spot locations, directly onto weeds. As well, the spraying will only be done by qualified professionals working for Parks Canada who have experience spraying Tordon 22K and Milestone, the names of the herbicides to be used.

Jasperite citizens are still not permitted to spray herbicides onto their lawns.

The spraying is being targeted along the edges of town, away from locations that are heavily used by people. However, there are still risks of human exposure. As well, plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables around town that are exposed to the chemicals could be killed.

Municipal Manager George Krefting said he expected education and proper signage about the herbicide program to stymy any major opposition. He said if the areas that are being sprayed are properly identified, then people in Jasper will be at much less risk.

“I expect Parks, with the experience that they’ve gained over using this program outside of the town, should be able to tell us what has worked and what hasn’t,” said Krefting.

Councillor Brenda Zinck agreed, adding that as long as people know where the spraying is happening in advance so they can stay away, they should be safe.

“Are you comfortable with the role you’re going to have to play here?” Mayor Richard Ireland asked Krefting about his responsibilities for the new spray program. For instance, the municipal manager is the one who authorizes Parks Canada to use the herbicides in the municipality, according to the policy. As well, the policy reads that public education and public safety have to be addressed to the satisfaction of the municipal manager.

Krefting said he would be able to get advice from experts about the spraying and hopefully, that advice would allow him to make proper decisions.

Mayor Ireland said that he not heard resounding public opposition to the proposed use of herbicides in the townsite, despite a long consultation process and numerous venues for naysayers to make their voices heard. 

He said that it’s possible there may be a backlash against council’s decision, but he felt he was acting in the town’s best interest. He said all council can do in these controversial decisions is too provide a forum for the public to speak and help council make a decision.

If a backlash does come, he said it would be possible to make changes to the decision.

“I think there will be a public outcry when these signs go up. I can see this leading to some huge concerns,” said Monika Schaefer, who was present at the meeting. She said the original decision not to use herbicides in the town years ago came about due to public anger. That anger reached a head when people saw the signs up around parts of town stating that sprays were planned or happening.

“I’m just kinda letting you know that this probably won’t go without some public outcry,” Schaefer told council.

Parks Canada has argued that it needs to spray herbicides against weeds in town because they have proven resistant to traditional forms of control. Some weeds in town are strong enough that simply picking them does not control their numbers, Parks says. If these weeds are allowed to spread, they could have destructive effects on the ecosystem in the park. The program will target several invasive species.

Councillor Rico Damota was not present for the vote.