'Unnecessary and avoidable threat': Calls to keep cosmetic pesticide ban in place
Over 30 health and environmental organizations are calling on the province to keep the cosmetic pesticide ban in place.
The group, which includes the Manitoba Health Coalition, the Manitoba College of Family Physicians and the Winnipeg Humane Society, wants the province to rethink Bill 22.
The upcoming legislation would roll back restrictions that have been in place since 2014, which forces lawn companies and homeowners to stop using certain chemicals and switch to eco-friendly products.
The coalition believes lawn pesticides are a threat to the health of children and others.
“The overwhelming consensus of the available research tells us that children are most at risk from exposure to pesticides. Toxic lawn pesticides represent an unnecessary and avoidable threat to the health of children and others in our community. The pesticide ban can and should stay in place,” said Thomas Linner, provincial director of the Manitoba Health Coalition.
If the bill is passed, people would be allowed to use Health Canada approved pesticides for cosmetic use, but there would still be a ban in places like schools, child-care centres, hospitals, municipal playgrounds and provincial parks.
READ MORE: Understanding pesticides in Manitoba
The Manitoba NDP, who announced in April it would delay the bill, issued a statement Tuesday, renewing calls to stop the bill from passing.
"This bad PC bill is unnecessary and it will move us backward not forward to a cleaner future,” said Lisa Naylor, NDP critic for climate change and the environment.
“Families and experts agree – cosmetic pesticides are harmful for our children, our pets and our environment. We have to come together to raise awareness and stop Bill 22."
BILL WOULD ALLOW HEALTH CANADA APPROVED PESTICIDES: PROVINCE
In a statement to CTV News, a spokesperson for Jeff Wharton, Manitoba’s minister of environment, climate and parks said cosmetic pesticides that are currently restricted in Manitoba are deemed acceptable by Health Canada.
They added over 350 Health Canada scientists are dedicated to the review of pesticides.
“They use the most recent data and science available to assess risks to human health and the environment. Any pesticide must go through this rigorous review before it can be sold in Canada and must include instructions on how to safely apply the product,” the spokesperson said.
They added other prairie provinces have no such ban on pesticides in place and do not protect sensitive areas like schools and hospitals, as Bill 22 would.
The bill is set to come to a vote in the Legislature this fall.
- With files from CTV’s Jon Hendricks and Devon McKendrick
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.