The ban on "cosmetic" pesticides

First of all what does cosmetic pesticides mean? According to Bill 64, Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act, cosmetic pesticides mean "non-essential".
Ontario’s lawns, gardens, school yards and parks should be a lot healthier since Earth Day, April 22, 2009. That’s was the effective date of the province’s cosmetic pesticides ban.
The McGuinty government says the use of pesticides to control pesky weeds and insects for purely cosmetic reasons is an unnecessary risk to our families and pets, especially when you can have a healthier lawn and garden without chemicals.

The Canadian Cancer Society have made convincing cases for reducing our exposure to pesticides, particularly children who are generally more susceptible to the potential toxic effects of pesticides.

But are harmful pesticides really banned? According to www.news.ontario.ca there are many exceptions to these rules. Here are a few:

Golf courses: are conditionally excepted from the ban provided they follow tough new rules. They must become accredited for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) by an approved accreditation body. IPM uses a variety of tools, including best practices, mechanical and biological methods, along with pesticides when necessary, to manage pest populations. Golf courses must prepare an annual report on how they minimized their pesticide use and make the report accessible to the public. Also, they must hold a public meeting annually to present the report.
Sports fields: are allowed a short term exception from the ban to host national or international level sports competitions. Written approval for the exception must be granted by the Minister of the Environment. Once the event concludes, the use of pesticides must end. Areas such as lawns and gardens around the sports fields are not excepted from the ban.
Specialty turf: Pesticides can be used to maintain specialty turf used for lawn bowling, cricket, lawn tennis and croquet if certain conditions are met. Areas such as lawns and gardens around the specialty turf are not excepted from the ban. IPM and annual reporting conditions, similar to those imposed on golf courses, must be followed.
Trees: Since trees are so important to protecting our climate, licensed exterminators can use conventional pesticides with the written opinion of a tree care professional that states that the use of the pesticide is necessary to protect the health of the tree. Homeowners and licensed exterminators can also buy and use biopesticides and lower risk pesticides (e.g., Btk - a biopesticide sprayed over Ontario cities for Gypsy moth control) to care for trees without requiring an opinion from a tree care professional.
Agriculture: The use of pesticides is necessary for agriculture from an economic and operational perspective. Ontario farmers already have stringent rules on the use, handling, storage and application of pesticides, and these rules will continue. The exception does not apply to a farmer's household vegetable garden and lawn.
Forestry: The use of pesticides in forestry is essential to protect trees from pests, and to control competing vegetation. Ontario's forestry workers must follow stringent rules on the use, handling, storage and application of pesticides. The exception applies to a range of forestry activities including harvest and reforestation.
Public works: Under the health or safety exception, pesticides are allowed to be used to maintain safe conditions, and the security of and emergency access to public works. Public works include highways, railways, power works, gas works, water works and other utilities, transit/transportation corridors and the perimeter of nuclear facilities. The exception does not apply to the use of a pesticide on a portion of a highway to which pedestrians have access on a regular basis or where the public is invited to stop including picnic and rest areas.

From my understanding, the use of "cosmetic" pesticides are not supposed to be used by people with yards and lawns living in the city. Has the government of Ontario really put a ban to pesticide use?

Take me home!