Time to ban cosmetic pesticides in N.B.
The recent decision by the provincial government to consult the population of New Brunswick on the future of cosmetic pesticides rings hollow to most environmentalists.
The fact is, the debate has been going-on for over a decade and the government knows where the industry and environmentalists stand on the issue. It also has a clear reading of public opinion. The minister of the environment admitted as much to journalists last week.
That being said, and apart from stating that this is another example of government delay tactics, I will concede that it is a moot point. We have a timeline for the consultations, and we know that by next October the Graham government will have all the information it needs to move ahead on this issue.
And move ahead it must.
Of the four options being put forward in the government discussion paper on the future of cosmetic pesticide use, Option 1 -- continued voluntary measures -- must be rejected from the outset. Although the government may claim that there has been a noticeable decline in the use of pesticide products over the past decade thanks to continued public awareness, the fact remains that we are still being unnecessarily exposed to these substances on a daily basis, with all the health risks that come with it.
When organizations such as the Canadian Cancer Society and the Ontario College of Family Physicians say that these products are dangerous to our health, we should listen carefully, and take action.
Besides, no jurisdiction in Canada is considering the status quo. In fact, Quebec and Ontario have now enacted legislation that bans dozens of substances and hundreds of pesticide products.
The pesticide industry says that banning products is a bad idea and that there are better techniques available such as the Integrated Pest Management system. The IPM concept is predicated on correctly identifying the nature of weed or insect problems and only using pesticides in measured doses.
If this system were to become mandatory throughout the province (Option 2), it might work. But we feel that the IPM method should be part and parcel of a provincial law severely restricting the use of cosmetic pesticides (Option 3). In other words, a provincial ban of pesticide products from store shelves should be accompanied by strict regulation of the pesticide companies, allowing for only measured use of pesticides when actual infestations occur.
Option 4 put forward by the provincial government would give municipalities clear powers to act on pesticides. This is interesting since the debate in New Brunswick over the past few years has been centered on the right of municipalities to enact their own bylaws to restrict the use of cosmetic pesticides.
Four municipalities have already done so, with varying results. Most municipal governments have not had the political will to take leadership on the issue, claiming that the law in New Brunswick is unclear as to whether or not they have the power to act. Again, we believe that this option must be part of a new provincial statute. The twist is that the new law should explicitly allow any municipality to go above and beyond the provisions of that statute. For example, more progressive municipalities may want to prohibit the use of pesticides on golf courses. They should be allowed to do so even if the provincial statute does not regulate golf courses.
It has always been our position that the issue of cosmetic pesticides is not a complicated one. The science is clear.
These chemical products pose serious health risks to humans and animals. When one weighs the health risks with the goal of eradicating harmless weeds, there is no contest. The protection of our health wins out.
The Supreme Court of Canada said as much when it ruled that action on cosmetic pesticides is warranted under the precautionary principle. We may not have 100 per cent certainty that spraying pesticides on lawns jeopardizes lives. But it is not a risk worth taking.
n Michel DesNeiges, of Moncton, is executive director of the New Brunswick Environmental Law Society. For more information visit www.sade-els.org
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