Ontario acts to protect bees, feds twiddle their thumbs

Sierra Club Canada Foundation news release

TORONTO – The global campaign to ban neonicotinoid pesticides took a big step forward in Ontario today. The provincial government — using its own pesticide control legislation — will reduce the use of neonicotinoid pesticides by 80%.

The Sierra Club Canada Foundation looks forward to participating in the public consultation in Ontario. “This is an essential first step and it was courageous,” said John Bennett, National Program Director, Sierra Club Canada Foundation.

The Ontario government has been under tremendous pressure from multinational chemical companies like Bayer and Syngenta led by recently retired Conservative MP Ted Menzies. The companies stand to lose millions in sales of pesticides in Ontario.

It is the practice of seed suppliers to treat ALL corn and soybean with neonicotinoid pesticides. Over 1 million bags of treated corn seed is sold in Ontario annually.

“This move will not only help save millions of bees, it’ll help grain farmers save millions of dollars by not paying for seed treated with a pesticide they don’t need,” said Mr. Bennett.

Sierra Club Canada Foundation has worked closely with beekeepers, environmental organizations, farmers, scientists and individuals to convince governments in Canada to take responsible action. “The Ontario government is the first jurisdiction in North America to take serious action,” said Mr. Bennett.

“The Ontario government has vindicated our campaign, recognized the science and acted. This is one of the biggest environmental victories in years,” said Mr. Bennett. “However we still have a long way to go to get rid of neonicotinoid pesticides.”

Meanwhile in Ottawa, Health Canada continues to do nothing to stop the chemical massacre of bumble bees and other pollinators — even though it is responsible for licensing all pesticides in Canada.

Ontario Sets Goal to Reduce Neonicotinoid Use by 80 Per Cent

Ontario government news release

Ontario is taking action to strengthen bird, bee, butterfly and other pollinator health to ensure healthy ecosystems, a productive agricultural sector, and a strong economy.

Pollinators play an important role in Ontario’s agricultural productivity. Crops such as apples, cherries, peaches, plums, cucumbers, asparagus, squash, pumpkins, and melons need help from pollinators to grow.

The federal Pest Management Regulatory Agency has found a link between planting corn and soybean seeds treated with neonicotinoids — an agricultural insecticide — and bee deaths in Ontario. The province’s approach will help keep crops healthy and improve the environment by:

• Working towards a goal of 80 per cent reduction in the number of acres planted with neonicotinoid-treated corn and soybean seed by 2017
• Reducing the over-winter honeybee mortality rate to 15 per cent by 2020
• Establishing a comprehensive Pollinator Health Action Plan

The province will consult on a proposal to reduce the use of neonicotinoid-treated corn and soybean seed. If approved, new rules on the use of neonicotinoids will be in place by July 1, 2015, in time for the 2016 agricultural planting season.

Ensuring a strong and healthy agricultural sector is part of the government’s economic plan for Ontario. The four part plan is building Ontario up by investing in people’s talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives, and building a secure savings plan so everyone can afford to retire.

QUICK FACTS

• Ontario has released a discussion paper on pollinator health for comment over 60 days on Ontario’s Environmental and Regulatory Registries. Consultation sessions will be held in December 2014 and January 2015 to seek input from industry, researchers, organizations and individuals.
• According to the Ontario Provincial Winter Loss Survey, in 2013-14, bee deaths in Ontario reached their highest recorded level at 58 per cent.
• Scientific evidence shows that neonicotinoids harm bees by disrupting their ability to feed, navigate and reproduce, making them more succeptible to bacterium, virus, or other microorganisms that can cause disease.
• Bees and other pollinators are responsible for pollinating roughly 13 per cent of agricultural crops in Ontario (crops worth about $897 million), and support $26 million annually in honey production.
• In Ontario we have both wild and managed bee populations. Both make a significant contribution to Ontario’s agriculture and environment. In addition to bees, wild pollinators include butterflies, flies, beetles, and other insects.

Ontario’s agri-food sector employs 760,000 individuals and contributes $34 billion each year to the province’s economy.