Thursday, December 4, 2008

Get serious about the science! We’re all safer with science-based regulations


Get serious about the science!
We’re all safer with science-based regulations

Crop life has posted an easy to use "send to the Premier" letter on their website. http://www.croplife.ca/web/mailmp/
You can send a letter to your MPP as well. Here's what they say--

Canadians expect the laws governing the products they find on stores shelves to be based on sound scientific principles. Ontario’s draft regulations to ban the sale and use of some pesticides are seriously flawed because they are lacking in scientific criteria.

What does that mean?

  • why a specific product can – or cannot - be used or sold in Ontario has not been spelled out
  • what criteria are required for new products has not been defined, which makes it very difficult for companies to develop new solutions to pest problems
  • home landscapes – grass, trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetable gardens – appear to be defined as cosmetic and not worthy of protection
  • this government is closing the door on new product innovation in Ontario

We are asking the Government of Ontario go back to the drawing board and define the scientific criteria it will use to assess current products and future innovations so that homeowners and professionals will have access to the safest and most effective tools to manage legitimate pest problems.

Your voice counts!

Make sure the McGuinty government knows scientific criteria must be the cornerstone of these regulations.

Here’s what you can do:

  1. Send in the letter below online to Premier McGuinty and Minister Garretson. It is easy. Just complete the attached fields and push send.

  2. Contact your Member of Provincial Parliament. Email, phone numbers and office addresses can be found at: http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_current.do?locale=en

  3. Let department officials know what you think, too, by submitting comments through the Environmental Bill of Rights
    (The comment period ends December 22, 2008!)
    http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTA0OTk2&statusId=MTU3MjYz&language=en


Write the Premier and express your concerns.

Dear Premier McGuinty,

Ontario’s draft regulations to ban the sale and use of some pesticides are seriously flawed.

Like most Canadians, I expect the laws governing the products I can use to be based on sound scientific criteria. Since these draft regulations fail to provide any such criteria I ask that you develop scientific criteria and resume consultations once there is criteria to review.

Ontarians need to know:

  • why a specific product can – or cannot - be used or sold in Ontario
  • what criteria are desirable in new products so that companies can develop new solutions to common pest problems
  • why our home landscapes – grass, trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetable gardens – are defined as cosmetic and not worthy of protection
  • how this government plans to keep the door for new product innovation in Ontario open

We are all safer with science-based regulations.

Premier McGuinty, please get serious about the science! Go back to the drawing board and define the scientific criteria your government will use to assess current products and future innovations so that Ontarians will have access to the safest and most effective tools to manage legitimate pest problems.

Sincerely,

Complete the remaining fields and SEND

To:


CC:

If you don't know your MPP, click here

Name:

E-mail Address:

City:

Province:

Note that your name, city, province and e-mail address will automatically be added to the end of the letter.

Go to their website- to send your letter- http://www.croplife.ca/web/mailmp/