The Opportunity
British Columbia has the opportunity to phase out the sale and use of non-essential chemical pesticides to support healthier communities, healthier families and a healthier environment for all British Columbians.
The movement to ban the use and sale of cosmetic pesticides has been growing for more than 30 years across Canada. Hudson, Quebec passed the first municipal bylaw in 1997 – there are now over 170 cosmetic pesticide bylaws across Canada, including 38 bylaws in BC. The provinces of Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia have all enacted strong provincial legislation and BC has made significant progress towards its own provincial legislation.
In the August 2009 Throne Speech, the Campbell Administration announced a public consultation period on “the new and statutory protections to further safeguard the environment from cosmetic chemical pesticides”. During this consultation, between December 2009 and February 2010, more than 8,000 comments were received, approximately 88% in support of cosmetic pesticide legislation.
In May 2011, Premier Christy Clark announced her support for just such a ban: “I’ve supported this for years now. We are going to do it,” she said. Clark highlighted her desire to work together with the NDP and the public to create this legislation. The NDP introduced Private Members Bill M2303, the Pesticide and Carcinogen Control Act two days after this announcement. A bi-partisan Special Committee on Cosmetic Pesticides has been formed to make recommendations on the elimination of the unnecessary use of pesticides in BC.
