Saskatchewan residents want action on environment and cancer, survey finds

01 April 2008

REGINA - Nearly 7 out of 10 Saskatchewan residents (69%) believe that pesticides pose a threat to their health and would support a law phasing out pesticides used to beautify lawns and gardens. The majority also support banning smoking in all indoor workplaces (85%), on all school property (84%), and in vehicles carrying children (71%). These are just some of the results of a survey released today by the Canadian Cancer Society at the provincial legislature.

The Ipsos Reid survey asked 900 residents their opinion on a variety of issues including the cosmetic use of pesticides, restricting where people can smoke and the right to know the ingredients in consumer products. The results clearly tell us that people in Saskatchewan are concerned about the link between cancer and environmental poisons, and they want laws to protect against them, says Donna Ziegler, Director of Advocacy and Prevention for the Canadian Cancer Society in Saskatchewan

Evidence linking pesticides and cancer is suggestive and growing. That is why the Canadian Cancer Society is calling on the provincial government to phase out the cosmetic use of pesticides on lawns and gardens, and to educate the public about safer alternatives. Since ornamental use of pesticides has no countervailing health benefit and has the potential to cause harm, the Canadian Cancer Society is calling for a ban on the use of pesticides on lawns and gardens, says Heather Logan, National Director of Cancer Control Policy.

In April 2006, Quebec passed legislation that prohibited the sale and use of the most toxic pesticides on lawns of public, semi-public and municipal properties, lawns of private and commercial properties, child care centers and school property. More than 139 Canadian municipalities and almost 14 million Canadians have some level of protection against cosmetic pesticides. Saskatchewan residents have none.

The poll also found that the majority of residents want smoking banned on all healthcare property (84%), around entrances and windows of public buildings (76%) and at outdoor stadiums and arenas (70%). Two polls in two years make it clear that Saskatchewan people want more protection from second-hand smoke, especially at work. Today we are calling on the new legislature to work with us to help make Saskatchewan a healthier place to live, says Donna Pasiechnik, Tobacco Control Lead.

Although Saskatchewan has adopted some good tobacco control legislation, Saskatchewan has now fallen behind other provinces, says Rob Cunningham, Senior Policy Analyst with the national office of the Canadian Cancer Society. In particular, Saskatchewan is lagging behind what other Western provinces have done in terms of 100% smoke-free legislation, controls on where tobacco may be sold, and measures to prevent contraband. We urge Saskatchewan to catch up and move quickly to implement much-needed tobacco control measures.

The Society is calling on the government to ban smoking in all workplaces, vehicles carrying children, and outdoor locations such as patios of restaurants and bars as Saskatoon has done.

It is also asking the province to prohibit the sale of tobacco in a number of locations including pharmacies as 9 provinces and territories have including Alberta. And it is urging the province to invest in a plan to reduce tobacco use. Saskatchewan has the highest adult and youth smoking rate in Canada1 yet we spend one of the lowest amounts on tobacco control of all the provinces, just 59 cents per capita.

The survey also found that virtually all residents (98%) agree that consumers have the right to know the ingredients that are contained in the products they purchase. A vast majority (96%) would support their provincial government passing legislation that would require companies and manufacturers to clearly label products that contain cancer-causing substances.

Ipsos Reid conducted 900 telephone interviews with randomly selected Saskatchewan adults between February 4 and 13, 2008. A survey of this size is considered accurate to within 3.3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. The sample was chosen to ensure a representative regional, age and sex composition consistent with the Saskatchewan population according to 2006 Census data.

Environmental carcinogens briefing document and poll results (PDF 1.3 mb)

Detailed poll results are available on pages 21-23 of the briefing document (above)

The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is to eradicate cancer and to improve the quality of life of people living with cancer. When you want to know more about cancer, visit our website www.cancer.ca or call our toll-free, bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333.

The NCIC's mission is to undertake and support cancer research and related programs in Canada that will lead to the reduction of the incidence, morbidity and mortality from cancer. The NCIC receives its funding from the Canadian Cancer Society (75 per cent) and The Terry Fox Foundation (25 per cent).

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For more information, please contact:

Donna Ziegler, Director, Prevention & Advocacy

Canadian Cancer Society

Saskatchewan Division

Phone: (306) 790-9876

Donna Pasiechnik

Tobacco Control Lead

Saskatchewan Division

Phone: (306) 790-9871

Cell: (306) 533-5288