Resolution No. 13-05A

WHEREAS, Scentless Chamomile is a non-native invasive plant species that is difficult to control; and

WHEREAS, in recent years, this prolific species has spread rapidly throughout many rural municipalities in fields, roadsides and farmyards; T

HEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food, and Rural Revitalization include Scentless Chamomile under Section 19(1) and 23(1) of The Noxious Weeds Act, 1984, which provides for special control measures for Leafy Spurge, Field Bindweed, Russian Knapweed, Toadflax and Hoary Cress.

Response from the Honourable Mark Wartman, Minister of Agriculture and Food:

Containment and control of scentless chamomile can be effectively accomplished through existing provisions in the NWA 1984, without invoking the power to prohibit seeding (Section 19) or the need of the owner/occupant to surrender land to the control of the municipality voluntarily (Section 23) or involuntarily (by extension of Section 23 to Section 26). The authority that municipalities presently have, under the NWA 1984, through their appointed weed inspectors, is sufficient to prevent the spread of scentless chamomile, as long as those powers are exercised to their fullest and the weed inspector is proactively pursuing all available avenues of enforcement. Weed inspectors have the power to enforce the NWA, through the use of agreements and orders with landowners to control noxious weeds to prevent their spread, prohibit the movement of plant materials that are infested with noxious weeds and prohibit the movement of vehicles, or machinery that are contaminated with noxious weeds. If agreements or orders are not complied with, weed inspectors have the authority to ensure that weed control work is performed at the landowner's expense and the municipality has the option to pursue a summary conviction and related fines in Provincial Court. Noxious weeds that come under this power are named in the Noxious Weeds Designation Regulations, 1999 and include scentless chamomile.