The province mandates a weed inspector, and Bonfield is ready to go.
Recently, Bonfield’s council appointed Alex Hackenbrook as the township’s newest weed inspector. Nicky Kunkel, Bonfield’s Chief Administrative Officer, explained to BayToday that the new appointment doesn’t mean more additional costs for the town. Hackenbrook already serves as the Public Works Manager, so the weed inspector duties will be added to his responsibilities.
Every municipality must appoint a weed inspector. As Kunkel noted, “The province dictates that we must have one.” This goes back to the Weed Control Act of 1990, an act designed to control noxious and invasive species within Ontario.
That act also ensured that every municipality in the province appoint a weed inspector. If one is not appointed by local council, the province will assign one as needed and bill the municipality for those services.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs oversees the provinces weed inspectors.
Kunkel noted, “Some of their duties would be inspecting properties for any noxious weeds that the province wants eradicated, and keeping an eye on the roadways is the most common one.”
Indeed, the province currently has a list of 25 weeds deemed noxious under the Weed Control Act, including Common Barberry, European Buckthorn, Coltsfoot, Dog-strangling vine, and of course, Giant Hogweed.
If an inspector comes across any of those 25 weeds on the most wanted list, they must eradicate the plant. They must also fill a report out for the ministry, letting the minister know what happened. If a resident calls the town, frantic because Little Billy’s hands are ballooning after playing with Giant Hogweed, the office will send out the weed inspector to document the incident and destroy the plant.
Also, let it be known the inspector has authority to have a look around one’s land and property, if he or she suspects that you’re harbouring dangerous weeds.
The act details, “For the purpose of searching for noxious weeds or weed seeds, an inspector may at any time between sunrise and sunset enter upon any land and buildings, except a dwelling house, in the area within his or her jurisdiction and inspect the land, buildings and any implements, machinery, vehicles and crops or other plants.”
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.