Ontario Launches $5-Million War on Bedbugs

The pests have made life hell for many Toronto families recently.

The tiny bugs are a big problem in Toronto, where infestations have skyrocketed from 43 in 2003 to 1,500 last year. The Ontario government now has plans to set aside $5 million for provincial health units to fight bedbugs, with the money going towards education programs to help citizens recognize and deal with infestations. The program particularly targets landlords and building owners, urging building-wide bedbug control measures because the pests can so easily migrate between apartments in the same building. Among the recommendations listed on a new government website at www.bedbugsinfo.ca is that over-the-counter sprays be avoided because they are ineffective and pose a fire hazard.