BC Govt Did NOT Listen

Earlier this year,
our Ministry of Environment
consulted on 
"new statutory provisions
to further safeguard
the environment
from cosmetic
chemical pesticides."

On April 15, 2010,
the Ministry posted
a summary
of submitted comments.

The BC Government has
no plans
for ban legislation,
although 88%
of consultation
respondents
support a ban.

The BC Government
must listen to BCers,
follow Nova Scotia,
Ontario and Quebec,
focus on public health
(not plant health)
and pass a "no IPM"
sale and use ban.

Tell the Campbell Government
you want strong,
"no IPM" ban legislation.

Take action! now.

BC Party Positions on Ban

During the May 2009
BC election campaign,
the Canadian Cancer Society asked for each party's position on a provincial ban.

The BC Liberals were silent
on this issue.
The NDP and Green Party support a provincial ban.

For each party's response
on a ban (Question 5) and
right to know legislation (Question 6), click here.

For responses to all Cancer Society questions, click here. 

Print "Pesticide Free" Poster

poster
Click on the image
to print this poster.

Put it up at your school, library, store, golf course  . . .

Spread the word that
BC needs a Pesticide Free
ban in 2010.

Make BC Pesticide Free!

The Canadian Cancer Society
wants the BC Government
to pass legislation in 2010
for a "no IPM"  ban
on the sale and use of
cosmetic pesticides.

Watch their
Make BC Pesticide Free! video.

Take action! now.

Take Action Now!


The BC Government has no plans to ban cosmetic pesticides.


The Ministry of Environment posted

of a summary of consultation comments received by February 15, 2010

but not further action is identified

even though 88% of consultation respondents want a ban.


Ministry of Environment staff

did not communicate this overwhelming support for a ban

to Minister Penner or to British Columbians.


See "BC Govt Did Not Listen" and "Need Pressure for BC Ban" top right sidebars.


We need to tell the Campbell Government that
 
British Columbians support "no IPM" legislation

that bans the sale and use of cosmetic pesticides in BC.


You need to take action . . . now!


Our Ministry of Environment and the chemical industry promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as the "safe" and "proper" way to use chemical lawn and garden products (aka cosmetic pesticides).

Ontario (2009) and Quebec (2003) have protective bans on the sale and use of cosmetic pesticides, and Nova Scotia will in 2011.

BC needs to follow these leaders and pass strong "no IPM" ban legislation. 

A weak "ban" (like New Brunswick and PEI) that allows continued IPM use will not protect BCers, our pets or the environment from harmful cosmetic pesticides.

Contact the Campbell Government . . .

  • Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Minister of Environment, that you want your Government to pass "no-IPM" legislation to ban the sale and use of cosmetic pesticides in 2010.  

    • Ask the Premier (MLA Vancouver - Point Grey) and Minister Penner (MLA Chilliwack - Hope) why they have not acted upon the consultation results that show overwhelming support for a BC ban.
    • Ask why they have not followed the lead of Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec and protected our children, pets and the environment from harmful pesticide exposure.
    • Explain why you are personally concerned and why you want action on this important public health issue.
  • Email your concerns to the 4 other responsible ministers and ask why they are not working to ban the sale and use of cosmetic pesticides:

    • the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development.  MLA Port Moody - Coquitlam.
    • the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Minister of Healthy Living and Sport.  MLA Oak Bay - Gordon Head.
    • the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Minister of Community and Rural Development.  MLA Westside - Kelowna (Responsible for the Community Charter's Spheres of Concurrent Jurisdiction).
    • the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Minister of Agriculture and Lands. MLA Kelowna - Mission.
  • Email your MLA that you want the BC Government to introduce "no-IPM" ban legislation. 

    • For Liberal MLAs, ask why the BC Government has not acted upon the overwhelming support for a BC ban.
    • Ask why they have not followed the lead of Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec and protected our children, pets and the environment from harmful pesticide exposure.
      Or if you prefer to use the mail . . .

Send your concerns to the Ministry of Environment . . .

Support BC's pesticide ban advocacy groups and . . .
  • Check out the 20 health and environment coalition members that have called for a BC ban. See "BC Ban Coalition Groups" left sidebar.

    Are you affiliated with any group through family? work? health issues?

    Contact your group(s) and help get BC's ban. Send them this website!

Think about your Ontario connections . . .
  • Are you connected with people in Ontario?

    Check out the 15 group coalition that advocated for Ontario's April 2009 ban in "Ont Ban Coalition Groups" right sidebar. 
Are you affiliated with any group through family? work? health issues?

Find out how your Ontario connection was successful. Use the same approach to help get BC's ban.


Is the " Why isn't BC Pesticide Free?" poster up in your community?
  • Please print the poster and put it EVERYWHERE . . . in your library, at school, work, your grocery store, on community notice boards, at your recreation centre, your fitness centre, your golf course.

    See "Print Pesticide Free Poster" left sidebar.  Help spread the word that all BCers need protection in a provincial ban.

Think about who you know in BC, what they do and if they . . .

have children or grandchildren,
are pregnant (or trying),

have a dog or cat,

walk around their neighbourhood,
walk around a university or college campus,

fish for fun, or a living,
golf for fun, or a living,

play for fun, or a living, on an outdoor sport field,
play on a school yard or community park,

deliver newspapers or mail,
are a medical professional or veterinarian,
work with, or sell, landscaping products,

have a lawn,
have a garden,

. . .  please send them this website!
Last Updated on Friday, 27 August 2010 14:10
 
Why isn't BC pesticide free?  Take Action! now.
 


Need Pressure for BC Ban

"Moreover,
Freedom of Information
documents received by
West Coast
Environmental Law
show that this
high level
of public support
for a ban
was never
properly communicated
to the Minister
and
suggest that
more public pressure
needs to be brought
to bear before
the government
will consider a ban
on cosmetic pesticides."

Provincial consultations show 88% support for cosmetic pesticide ban

West Coast Environmental Law
July 22. 2010 blog

Ont Govt Listened

"The McGuinty government
believes
the use of pesticides
to control pesky
weeds and insects
for purely cosmetic reasons
is an unnecessary risk
to our families and pets,
especially when you can have
a healthier lawn and garden
without chemicals. 

We have listened
to medical experts

– like the Canadian
Cancer Society –

who have made
a convincing case
for reducing
our exposure
to pesticides,
particularly children
who are generally
more susceptible
to the potential
toxic effects
of pesticides."
 
Ontario Ministry of Environment website.

Ontario's Pesticide Free

"We all want
our lawns and gardens
to look healthy and green.

The good news is we can
have great results
without using pesticides.

When we don’t use pesticides
to deal with common weeds and pests in our gardens,
it is not only better
for our health (especially
for young children and pets)

it’s also better for the health
of the entire eco-system:
birds, animals, bees,
butterflies, fish and plants.

For years, people have used organic or natural methods
to grow beautiful lush grass
and safe, healthy gardens.

In fact,
these tried and true methods
have been around for centuries
— a lot longer than pesticides".

Ontario Ministry of Environment
Beautiful Lawns & Gardens Naturally website.

Ont Ban Coalition Groups

These 15 health and
environment groups
advocated for Ontario's
April 2009 ban:

CAPE
Cdn Cancer Society - Ont Div
Cdn Environmental
  Law Assoc
Children’s Hosp of Eastern Ont
David Suzuki Foundation
EcoJustice
Environmental Defence
Learning Disabilities
  Assoc of Cda
Ont College of Family Physicians
Ont Medical Assoc
  – Pediatric Div
Ont Public Health Assoc
Organic Landscape Alliance
Pesticide Free Ont
Prevent Cancer Now
Registered Nurses’
  Assoc of Ont

Are you affiliated
with any of these groups
through family? work?
health issues?

Find out how
your Ontario connection
was successful
and use the same approach
to help get BC's ban.

For why these groups
wanted an Ontario ban,
click here.

Source: Organic Landscape Alliance.

Nova Scotia Gets Ban

"Our public consultation
response on this
was
overwhelmingly
in favour of a ban."

Nova Scotia's
Minister of Environment
May 4, 2010 News Release