Pesticides greater threat than previously admitted

Sierra Club says ban bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides now!

News release from Sierra Club Canada Foundation

OTTAWA — The findings of the Worldwide Integrated Assessment (WIA) undertaken by the Task Force on Systemic Pesticides make it absolutely clear neonicotinoid pesticides must be banned by Health Canada. The Study reviewed some 800 scientific papers and concluded that the impacts of neonicotinoid pesticides go far beyond honey bees: butterflies, birds and amphibians are all threatened.

“The experiment must end now!” said John Bennett, National Program Director, Sierra Club Canada Foundation. “There is overwhelming evidence to justify banning neonicotinoid pesticides,” he continued.

Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has inexplicably refused to take action after concluding last September that the use of neonicotinoid pesticides is ‘unsustainable because they kill bees’. After a three month comment period the Agency decided last December to continue consulting for at least two more years before making a decision.

However, in February of this year the PMRA greatly expanded the approved uses of the neonicotinoid pesticides despite its own cautions and mounting evidence of the damage being done.

“Canada needs a strong regulatory regime that bases its decisions on science, not on needs of the pesticide industry,” said Mr. Bennett.

On June 19th Sierra Club Canada Foundation requested the federal Ethics Commissioner launch an investigation of Conservative MP and Cabinet Minister accepting a job with CropLife the pesticide industry’s lobbying organization.

The European Union banned the use of neonicotinoid pesticides a year ago in response to mounting scientific evidence. Last week President Obama announced a review of pesticides among other measures to protect bees and other pollinators.