Community Action Group Seeks
Support For New Pesticide Bill
-CAPS Bulletin
February 17, 2001
Editor's Note: The community action group Campaign for Pesticide Reduction-Ontario (CPR-O) has issued a 'call to arms' in support of Marlene Jennings recent proposed Bills C-267 & C-268 requesting a moratorium on pesticides used for cosmetic purposes. CPR-O notes that all communication with the PM and local MPs in support of these Bills must be made by April 22, 2001 (Earth Day). Please send your emails, faxes, letters today!
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS WIDELY TO LIKE-MINDED NETWORKS, FRIENDS & FAMILY
CALL TO ACTION ON PESTICIDES
Dated February 17th., 2001
Marlene Jennings' Private Member Bill C-388 was re-introduced in the
House of Commons under a new number Bill C-267 on Wednesday, February
14th at 3:20 p.m. of the first reading. We need your help to urge the
government to make Marlene Jennings' Private member Bill C-267 a
government bill calling for a moratorium on the non-essential use of
pesticides.
| "The lack of 'real action'
demonstrated by Allan Rock, Health Canada and the PMRA only indicates
that they are not willing to take the necessary steps to protect
public health from the non-essential use use of these chemical
pesticides in our communities" |
The vague government response by Allan Rock last October to Charles
Caccia's Report on Pesticides (May 1999) was an insult to the
democratic process which demanded 'real' and meaningful change with
Canada's antiquated pesticide policies. The lack of 'real action'
demonstrated by Allan Rock, Health Canada and the PMRA only indicates
that they are not willing to take the necessary steps to protect
public health from the non-essential use use of these chemical
pesticides in our communities. The government is being irresponsible
given the weight of evidence of the heath risks posed by chemical
pesticides. As a precautionary measure they should have imposed a
moratorium on a long time ago. The government needs to be held
accountable. Bill C-267 states April 22, 2001 is the deadline.
LET'S TURN UP THE HEAT AND START GRUMBLING TO THE PM!!!
The following is a partial list of strategies & tactics that you can
help with to support Marlene Jennings' Pesticide bill and raise the
profile on concerns over the unnecessary use of landscaping pesticide
in our communities:
Pesticide Elimination Strategy & Tactics (PEST)
Action # 1 - Write/E-mail/Call Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
Write/E-mail/Call Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and urge him to make
Marlene Jennings' Private member Bill C-267 a government bill calling
for an immediate moratorium on the non-essential use of chemical
pesticides. Send copy to Marlene Jennings and your local MP. Postage
addressed to the House of Commons is free.
The Rt. Hon. Jean Chrétien
Prime Minister of Canada
Government of Canada
Prime Minister's Office
Bus: 613-941-6888
Bus: 613-992-4211
Fax: 613-941-6900
Email: pm@pm.gc.ca
Rm 309-S, Centre Block
House of Commons
Ottawa ON
K1A OA6
Send copy of your e-mail/letter to:
Marlene Jennings
M.P., Notre-Dame-de-Grâce-Lachine
Bus: (613) 995-2251
Fax: (613) 996-1481
Email: jennings.m@parl.gc.ca
House of Commons
Government of Canada
Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Search for your local MP's address go to:
http://direct.srv.gc.ca/cgi-bin/wgweng
or http://www.parl.gc.ca/
|
Action # 2 - Call or E-mail Your Federal MP for Your Riding
Call candidates in your riding and ask them the following questions:
* Ask them to state their position on a moratorium on
chemical landscaping pesticides;
* Ask them if they will support Marlene Jennings Bill C-267
calling moratorium on the non-essential use of chemical pesticides in
Canada until they are proven safe?;
* Ask them to meet with, write and call Prime Minister Jean
Chrétien and the PMO and demand a moratorium on chemical landscaping
pesticides;
* If not, ask them what they (or their party) plan to do
about protecting the public health from the unnecessary exposure to
chemical pesticides?
Action # 3 - Circulate This E-mail Widely
Circulate this e-mail widely to your friends and like-minded
networks. Pass the word around and have your families write a letter
(see sample below) then e-mail or mail it in. The federal government
and the pesticide industry want us to go away. They know they are not
doing anything and think Rock's response has taken the wind out of
our sails. No matter what they say, we are very close so WE REALLY
HAVE THE KEEP THE PRESSURE ON and demand 'real action and real
legislation' demanding a moratorium on chemical landscaping
pesticides until proven safe.
SAMPLE LETTER (If you have time use your own words)
February 17, 2001
The Rt. Hon. Jean Chrétien, Prime Minister
Room 309-S, Centre Block
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
RE: Immediate moratorium on non-essential use of pesticides
Dear Prime Minister Chrétien,
I am writing to urge you to make Marlene Jennings' Private members
Bill C-267 a government bill so that a moratorium on the
non-essential use of chemical pesticides until proven safe can
receive Royal Assent by April 22, 2001. This would show that you are
willing to act decisively to protect the health of Canadians and that
you take our concerns and the recommendations of the report on
pesticides by the Standing Committee seriously. Vague responses from
the Minister of Health have failed to address the 'real issues' and
that is why I expect you to personally handle this matter.
The Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ 2001; 164(3):365-9)
recently reported that approximately "25% of health problems are
already environmental in origin. There is no realistic way or current
technology available to replace declining natural ecosystem services
(e.g., climate stabilization, water purification, waste
decomposition, pest control, seed dispersal, soil renewal,
pollination, biodiversity and protection against solar radiation)
that are essential to health." Continuing to allow the
indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides in our communities only
exacerbates this problem.
As you know, the Standing Committee on the Environment and
Sustainable Development tabled its report, Pesticides: Making the
right choice, on May 16, 2000. In section 12.8 the Report says: "The
Committee firmly believes that a moratorium on pesticide use for
esthetic purposes is necessary until science has proven that the
pesticides involved do not constitute a health threat and some light
has been shed on the consequences of their use in urban areas."
Canadians are anxiously waiting for you to implement the necessary
legislation that guarantees to protect the health of our communities
and our environment from the unnecessary exposure to chemical
pesticides. You have been given the perfect opportunity with Bill
C-267. Don't disappoint us. It is unnecessary to refer this letter
to the Minister of Health because his chronic lack of leadership on
the non-essential use of pesticides is SHAMEFUL AND IRRESPONSIBLE.
IT'S UP TO YOU MR. PRIME MINISTER TO TAKE THE LEAD on this issue.
Please reply and tell me when I can expect action from you on this
urgent health issue.
Yours sincerely,
Your name
Your address
Your phone numbers
c.c. Your Local MP
Marlene Jennings, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce-Lachine, Liberal
__________________________
Regardless of the election and Allan Rock's weak response to the
Caccia Report the government needs to be reminded that the pesticide
issue will not go away and we will not let them have any peace until
they listen and act upon our concerns.
We must continue keep the pressure. Thank you for your support and
continued persistence.
-Members of the Campaign for Pesticide Reduction-Ontario
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