Coalition pushes for province to preserve pesticide ban

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This article was published 29/06/2022 (1430 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A coalition that includes the Manitoba College of Family Physicians has told the provincial government to scrap its plan to lift restrictions on cosmetic pesticides.

“The current ban represents sound, science-based public policy, with important health and environmental goals,” states a letter sent Tuesday to Environment Minister Jeff Wharton and Health Minister Audrey Gordon on behalf of the Cosmetic Pesticide Ban Manitoba Coalition.

“Independent, peer-reviewed evidence has identified serious health risks associated with human exposure to chemical pesticides.”

In March, the Tory government introduced Bill 22 (Environment Amendment Act). It would repeal legislation banning the use of a number of pesticides and herbicides for cosmetic purposes.

The proposed legislative change would instead permit the use of Health Canada-approved pesticides across most settings in Manitoba. However, Bill 22 would expand the list of places where synthetic pesticides would be prohibited.

In addition to the exterior property of schools, hospitals and child care centres, the use of prescribed cosmetic pesticides would also be restricted on municipal playgrounds, picnic areas, dog parks, and in provincial parks.

The Manitoba College of Family Physicians, Manitoba Lung Association, Winnipeg Humane Society, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Manitoba Nurses for Health and the Environment, Manitoba Public Health Association, David Suzuki Foundation and 25 others signed on to the letter.

“Family doctors take the privilege and responsibility of caring for their patients and communities seriously, and this includes advocating for public policy that protects the fundamental right to health,” Dr. Joanna Lynch, president of the Manitoba College of Family Physicians, said in a release.

“Peer-reviewed studies have established that serious health risks are associated with human exposure to chemical pesticides; therefore, the Manitoba College of Family Physicians believes that there is a need for continued restrictions on non-essential use of pesticides.”

Winnipeg Humane Society chief executive officer Jessica Miller said her organization supported restrictions on pesticide use when they were first introduced, due to the risk to animals.

“Animals are subject to many of the same health risks as humans when exposed to chemical pesticides on lawns and boulevards,” Miller said. “Provincial restrictions on non-essential pesticides should remain in place to protect family pets and all animal species from these preventable health risks.”

The coalition has asked government to withdraw or amend Bill 22, and ensure families and children are not exposed to pesticides.

“We understand that some municipalities and lawn care service providers in Manitoba are eager to regain access to currently prohibited herbicides. But we believe the government has not struck the right balance with Bill 22,” the coalition’s letter states. “Protecting human health is a higher priority than accommodating an aesthetic preference for weed-free lawns.”

Bill 22 was held over to the fall sitting of the legislature by the NDP to provide residents more time to consider its impact.

“This bad PC bill is unnecessary and it will move us backward, not forward, to a cleaner future,” NDP environment critic Lisa Naylor said in a prepared statement.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the government said other Prairie provinces do not ban on pesticides and do not prohibit the application of the chemicals in sensitive areas.

“Over 350 Health Canada scientists are dedicated to the review of pesticides,” the statement says, in part. “They use the most recent data and science available to assess risks to human health and the environment.”

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca