Neonic ban - the only science being used is political science, says Huron-Bruce MPP

July 1, the new regulation banning the use of the neonicotinoid (neonic) pesticide on 80 per cent of corn and soybean acreage will come into effect across Ontario. The ban, introduced by the Liberal government back in the fall of 2014, has farmers from across the province nervous for their next growing season in 2016.

Neonicotinoids are the most commonly used insecticide in the United States and Australia and until this week, Europe. They have been in used in Canada, and Ontario, since the early 1990s.

 

The use of neonics, applied to the seed, has replaced earlier more toxic products that had to be sprayed on leaves at up to 20 times the neonic application rate. As a seed treatment, the product first addresses pests in the soil and then moves up through the seedling, providing protection for up to 28 days before dissipating. Virtually none of the product makes it to the flower.

 

The new Liberal regulation dictates those who sell neonic-treated seeds must obtain a licence, submit annual sales reports to the province, and be responsible for ensuring that farmers meet the requirements to use treated seeds. The new regulation also includes that by 2017, farmers will no longer be able to use neonics at all unless they can prove they have a pest problem. Once they prove they have a problem, they will need to sign a declaration and participate in a pest management course. In other words, this is essentially an outright ban unless a need for use can be proven.

 

The government implemented this regulation citing there was a problem with bee health. However, science would disagree. Since noticing more bee deaths in 2013, farmers have dealt with dust drift at planting by developing and using deflectors and seed fluidity agents.

Farmers have applied these best practices successfully. In fact, Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency reports that "during planting period, there was a 70-per-cent decrease in the number of reported bee yards affected in 2014 compared to 2013; and in 2015, the reduction was 80 per cent compared to 2013." It is clear that the agricultural industry has been proactively solving the problem itself, and didn't need heavy regulation from government to fix the problem.

 

The Ontario Pollinator Health Blueprint has been released by a task force of certified crop advisors, agriculture retailers, the seed trade, farmers and beekeepers. Recommendations range from increased communication between farmers and beekeepers, to work on bee nutrition and habitat, to manageable and reasonable limits on insecticide use. The minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) asked the cash crop and beekeeper community to meet OMAFRA halfway, and it has. Yet, despite this, government remains adamant on its 80-per-cent neonicotinoid ban by 2017.

 

Unfortunately the political and activist agenda coming from this Liberal government has trumped science. In order to have good policy, we must use good science. We are not seeing this with the direction of this Liberal government. It is clear that premier Kathleen Wynne and the Liberals have their own agenda and they just aren't in it for rural Ontario anymore.

Lisa Thompson
Huron-Bruce MPP