Mayor Katz directs fogging program to continue

WINNIPEG - July 19, 2004 - Concerned that any further delays to residential mosquito fogging would create a negative impact on the quality of life of Winnipeg citizens, Mayor Sam Katz today directed the City of Winnipeg’s Insect Control Branch to continue its regular residential fogging program.

“This is a quality of life issue for the 650,000 citizens of Winnipeg,” said Katz. “We have a licensed mosquito fogging program for a reason, and there is no question increasing trap counts validate our use of it. I am fully confident we are working within the scope of our environmental permit.”

The decision to continue fogging was reached following meetings and briefings today with senior officials from the City and Provincial governments. The Insect Control Branch will continue fogging this evening, a decision supported by the vast majority of citizens who flooded the Mayor’s office with calls today.

Mayor Katz asked those who do not support the fogging, in particular those protesters who brought their children to block the fogging trucks on Saturday night, to exercise common sense in carrying out any further protest attempts.

“People have the freedom to express their opinions, but we would ask they cooperate and not act in an unsafe manner,” said Katz. “I urge those who may object to fogging to consider their safety and especially the safety of their children first.”