Canadians Against Pesticides - ABOUT CAPS

Home About Us Message Health The Ban Solutions The News Mission Email Us
CanadiansAgainstPesticideS
www.caps.20m.com
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