Golf courses in Ontario, along with agriculture, forestry and public health and safety uses, are conditionally exempt from the ban, but they must adhere to a set of extensive conditions in order to continue using pesticides in the future. Golf courses must be accredited for integrated pest management by an approved accreditation body – the province’s Ministry of the Environment is in the process of posting a list of such “approved accreditation bodies” on its website – and prepare an annual report on how they minimize pesticide use, make that report accessible to the public and also hold a public meeting in which they must present that report.

Golf industry allieds in Ontario have been working closely with the government for some time on this issue to develop golf-specific requirements. They have worked with the government to demonstrate that golf course superintendents and the golf industry are responsible in developing measures to properly manage the use of chemicals.