Pesticide

Legislation for Pesticide Reduction
How you can help by Julie Harwood

Marlene Jennings, Liberal MP for NDG-Lachine (Montreal) has presented to Parliament a Private Member's Bill, which would prohibit the use of chemical pesticides for "non-essential" purposes. The Summary of the Bill reads:

"The purpose of this enactment is to place a moratorium on the cosmetic use of pesticides in the home and garden and on recreational facilities such as parks and golf courses, until scientific evidence shows that such use is safe and has been presented to Parliament and concurred by a parliamentary committee".

Bill C-388 had its first reading in Dec. 99. Citizens across the country have sent thousands of letters and emails supporting the Bill. Alan Rock, Minister of Health, and David Anderson, Minister of Environment, have indicated their support. In addition, changes to the Pest Control Products Act are urgently required. You can help by writing to any or all of the following:

1. The Rt. Hon. Jean Chrétien, Prime Minister of Canada, Gov't of Canada Legislative Office, Rm. 309-S, Centre Block, House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
2. The Hon. Alan Rock, Minister of Health, Gov't of Canada, Brooke Claxton Building, Tunney's Pasture,16th Floor, Ottawa ON K1A 0K9
3. The Hon. David Anderson, Minister of the Environment, Gov't of Canada, Legislative Office, Rm. 133, East Block, House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
4. Your MP: Andrew Telegdi, Kitchener-Waterloo; Karen Redman, Kitchener Centre; Lynn Myers, Waterloo Wellington @ House of Commons, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

Tips for your letter:
1. Give an overview

Our food, air, and water are being polluted with toxic pesticides.
Pesticides can have a terrible impact on the health of all species.
Growing evidence shows that pesticides can cause serious health problems in both people and wildlife, and therefore threaten the well-being of the entire planet.

2. The current pesticide law doesn’t protect us

The Pest Control Products Act is 30 years old and is inadequate.
Many of today's pesticides were registered decades ago; there is no requirement for review.
People have little access to information about the hazards of pesticides.

3. New legislation is needed

The most vulnerable (the unborn, children, seniors, the disabled, sensitive species, endangered species) require maximum protection.Current standards are based on exposure and sensitivity of healthy adult males.
Pesticides should be guilty until proven innocent. The onus should not be on citizens to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that a chemical is unsafe; it should be incumbent on chemical companies to provide studies that indicate beyond a reasonable doubt that their pesticides will not cause harm to people and wildlife.
Pesticides should be regularly reviewed and banned if they don’t meet strict health and environmental protection standards.
Cosmetic use of pesticides is unacceptable.
Data should be accessible on pesticide hazards.
There must be support for farmers to make a transition away from chemical reliance. Subsidies that promote the use of pesticides should be eliminated (e.g. pesticides are GST-exempt). Governments should support agricultural research and education on alternatives to pesticides to assist farmers who are striving to meet the growing demand for safe food.

4. Ask your MP to protect health and the environment. Urge him/her to:

Support Marlene Jennings' Private Member's Bill C-388
Press the Hon. Allan Rock, Minister of Health to table amendments to the Pest Control Products Act without delay
Raise your concerns and those of other constituents in the House of Commons (e.g. during Question Period)
Inform constituents about pesticide legislation and invite them to provide comments and concerns.
Work for amendments and transition support programs such as those above.

Call me at 579-8871 to get a copy of the Bill and for more information about pesticides.
Recommended reading: Living Downstream by Sandra Steingraber.

Conservation

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