Peel sees lack of interest in rat control subsidy program

Thestar.com
March 23, 2022

Staff at the Region of Peel are going back to the drawing board with the Residential Rat Control subsidy program after a lack of public interest.

The pilot program, which started in March 2021, offered a 50 per cent rebate up to $200 for residents who spend money on rat control in their homes.

In a report set to come to Peel regional council, staff say there is $170,000 out of the $500,000 budget for the program left, with most of the costs of the program going to staffing and communications.

The pilot paid out just under $50,000 in subsidies to a total of 319 residents, just 28 per cent of what was expected.

“Given the low participation in the Residential Rat Control Subsidy Pilot Program, an education approach would be more commensurate with the magnitude of the current rat issue in the Region,” wrote staff in the report.

Council has the choice to either halt or continue to the program or modify it to focus on education.

Staff are asking for another $105,000 to create the education program and run it until the end of the year, as well as another $140,000 annually.

The item is set to be addressed in council on March 24.