Ontario greenhouse vegetable growers, and some flower greenhouses, are facing a new inspection from the Ontario environment ministry to ensure they’re following environmental regulations.
The inspections began last year and the program is being done over three years, says Justine Taylor, energy and environment coordinator with the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers. The ministry checked 72 greenhouses in 2015.
Dan McDonald, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change technical support manager for the southwest region, says the ministry is checking to see if greenhouse operations are complying with environmental rules and regulations.
Rick Seguin, general manager of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, says the ministry started with inspections of the vegetable greenhouses in southwestern Ontario “but they are expanding to all greenhouses, is my understanding.”