RE: Review of neonicotinoid pesticides use in Canada
December 9, 2013
Attention: Pest Management Regulation Agency
I am writing to officially provide comment on the use of bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides. I have reviewed the evidence and am persuaded that neonicotinoids are a serious threat to bees and other pollinators, and pose a serious threat to our ecosystem and food supply.
I have first contacted you on behalf of the Saskatchewan Network for Alternatives to Pesticides (SNAP) about this issue in 2006, after I was convinced by the evidence coming out of Europe.
Instead of curtailing the use of these insecticides, I have seen an ongoing increase in uses and crops they are allowed to be used on, including many insect-pollinated ones.
The evidence is well passed deliberations and the precautionary principle. Please do the right thing.
I strongly urge you to ban neonicotinoid pesticide use in Canada.
Paule Hjertaas,
President and spokesperson of the Saskatchewan Network for Alternatives to Pesticides ( SNAP) www.snapinfo.ca
15 Olson Place
Regina, SK, S4S 2J6
Background http://www.sierraclub.ca/en/Bees and http://www.snapinfo.ca/issues/bee-die-off
Canada’s pesticide regulators want to know your thoughts about saving bees (LAST CHANCE)
Paule
As you likely know by now, millions and millions of bees and other life-sustaining insect pollinators are being killed-off by neonicotinoid pesticides.
Dr. Peter Kevan is a professor in biology at the University of Guelph and a member of theOntario Beehealth Working Group. Here’s what he recently had to say in his address to the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority:
“We have a situation with neonicotinoids now which is an exact parallel with the previous situation with DDTs...where there was broad scale use over the entire landscape, and where this poison was everywhere.... It is my feeling that we're in for a kick in the back side as neonicotinoids are being spread over huge areas of farmland… Neonicotinoids could be a disaster waiting to happen.
If you’re with Peter, us, the National Academy of Sciences and the bees, PLEASE send a message to government regulators right now--it only takes a moment!
The deadline for public comment is a fast-approaching December 12th, 2013, so 'there’s no time like the present' to send a message to Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency.
We are pressing you to today because the pesticide industry lobby group “CropLife” is in high gear in their campaign to prevent a ban on thebee-killing pesticides. If you live in rural Ontario, you’ve likely seen their ads and/or planted letters/op-eds. We told you on November 15th, 2013, how they scandalously hired long-time Conservative MP Ted Menzies as CEO.
It’s now or never for the bees—their future is in our hands
The stakes have never been higher friends. CropLife may have millions to spend on their bee-killing status quo campaign, but our voices can be louder and stronger.
We owe it to the bees, the voiceless sustainers of life on this planet.
Stand up and be heard by acting now for the bees. They’re counting on us.
Sincerely,
John Bennett, National Campaign Director
Sierra Club Canada Foundation
412-1 Nicholas Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7B7
Executive.Director@sierraclub.ca
John on Twitter / Bennett Blog
