Ontario municipalities should not stay silent while chemical herbicides continue to be sprayed in public forests. The scientific basis for this practice has collapsed. In December 2025, a glyphosate safety review relied on for decades was retracted. In March 2026, the Seattle Statement on Glyphosate and Public Health concluded that the evidence of harm from glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides is now so strong that no additional delay in regulation can be justified.
Harms extending beyond cancer to endocrine, neurological, reproductive, kidney, liver, and metabolic harms, along with genetic damage, oxidative stress, and hormonal disruption.
This toolkit is designed for Residents Presenting to Council and for People in Unorganized Townships. It also provides Municipal Councillors and Staff with a municipal brief, a sample resolution, and links to documented municipal and Indigenous resolutions to support informed decision-making on herbicide use and public concerns.
RESIDENTS PRESENTING TO COUNCIL
Find out when Council meets
- Visit your municipality’s website
- Look for “Council” or “Agendas”
Register as a delegation
- “Request to Speak”
- “Delegation Form”
- Or email the Municipal Clerk
Bring materials (5–10 printed copies)
- Municipal Brief – Why This Matters to Municipalities (PDF)
- Sample Municipal Resolution (PDF)
Supporting evidence (links)
- Indigenous Nations resolutions opposing forest herbicide spraying
https://stopthespraycanada.ca/resolutions - Municipal councils that have passed or supported resolutions
https://stopthespraycanada.ca/municipalities - Organizational statements supporting non-chemical forest management
https://stopthespraycanada.ca/organizations
Presentation tips
- Councils usually allow 5–10 minutes
- Stick to the main points
- Invite neighbours to attend
For Municipal Councillors and Staff:
These materials are provided to support informed municipal decision-making and may be reviewed, shared with staff, or referred to committee.
💥 HOW TO TAKE ACTION IN AN UNORGANIZED TOWNSHIP
✔ 1. Form a group
Create a simple community name —
“Residents of ________________ Township”
This instantly gives your township a collective voice.
✔ 2. Speak with one voice
As a named group, you can send joint letters, meet with MPPs, talk to media, and be recognized as a community – not just scattered individuals.
✔ 3. File an official NOTICE OF OBJECTION – (PDF below)
Keep the original for your records, and send a copy to your local MPP and the MNRF at NRISC@ontario.ca. This puts your concerns on the official record and requires the Province to acknowledge them. Please CC supporters@stopthespraycanada.ca so we can document your community’s Notice of Objection and add it to our growing list of communities opposing the spraying.
Sample Email (Attach a Copy of the Signed Notice of Objection)
Subject: Notice of Objection to Non-Essential Chemical Herbicide Spraying in Ontario’s Public Forests
Hello,
Please find attached a Notice of Objection regarding the continued use of chemical herbicide spraying, including glyphosate-based products, in Ontario’s Public Forests. This objection is submitted in light of the retraction of key glyphosate safety claims and the serious risks this practice poses to public health, wildlife, water, ecosystems, and Indigenous Treaty rights and land use, which have been formally opposed for decades, as well as to future generations.
This Notice reflects our demand for an immediate end to herbicide spraying in Ontario’s Public Forests and for a transition to non-chemical forest management practices.
Thank you for confirming receipt of this Notice.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Community / Township]
[Email or phone – optional]
✔ 4. Ask nearby municipalities to support you
Municipal councils can pass resolutions that include you.
This multiplies your impact and adds political pressure where it counts.
✔ 5. Build pressure together
Once one unorganized township steps up, others will follow.
✔ 5. Create a Facebook Page or Group to share updates
