A new report from Ecojustice has revealed that sales of pest control products in Canada rose by 47 percent between 2011 and 2021, increasing exposures for Canadians and their environment.
According to the environmental law charity’s press release, Canada is now the fifth biggest pesticide user worldwide, even though it has a cooler climate than many other countries with reduced pests in the winters. Ecojustice estimated that annual pesticide sales in Canada have gone from 26 million kilograms in 2005 to over 130 million kilograms.
“The dramatic increase in pesticides use in Canada over the last decade is exposing people in Canada and their environment to more and more risks while agrichemical giants rake in ever-increasing profits,” said Sean O’Shea, government relations and campaign specialist at Ecojustice.
Specifically, exposure to pesticides can lead to short-term acute health effects. These chronic adverse effects reveal themselves months or even years following exposure, and even worse impacts on farmers, migrant agricultural workers, and Indigenous peoples, the press release said.
Ecojustice said that Health Canada has not been transparent enough, which can prevent Canadians from understanding the decisions being made and the risks to which they are exposed. Health Canada has yet to fully implement safeguards against cumulative risks, ecological risks, and other protections under the Pest Control Products Act, the press release added.
“Canadian regulators should acknowledge that pesticides can have a serious impact on human health and must use the best available independent scientific research to inform decision-making about what we allow to be put in the air, water, and land,” O’Shea said in the press release.
Ecojustice stressed that this country has been overusing many of these harmful chemicals despite the serious risks involved, even though there are often no visible advantages for farmers or the agricultural economy.
The press release noted that Canada, as a signatory of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, has committed to at least halving the risk of pesticides within five years from now.
Ecojustice urges action
In its press release, Ecojustice called upon Canada’s government to act urgently to improve the applicable regulatory system, reduce pesticide use as a part of its commitments under the 2022 Global Biodiversity Framework, and take steps to better protect the health of Canadians and the planet more broadly so that it can be safe and liveable for generations to come.
“In a time of increased global tension and political uncertainty, it’s important that political leaders in Canada do not lose focus on protecting our health, environment, and securing a sustainable food system,” O’Shea said in Ecojustice’s press release.
The report identified steps including setting a long-term goal to stop using toxic pesticides, achieving short-term reductions through halting high-risk, high-volume, and low-benefit practices, including in forestry and cosmetics, supporting farmers in adopting alternative pest management strategies, boosting transparency, and addressing harmful influences on decision-making.
“Canada can and should invest in strategies that move beyond pesticides,” O’Shea said in the press release.