Farmers in Ontario are planning public demonstrations tomorrow morning to protest provincial regulations on insecticidal seed treatments.
Members of Grain Farmers of Ontario will be outside MPP offices in Peterborough and London, handing out “wanted” posters and other documents critical of Liberal politicians.
“We have been extremely disappointed with how Toronto-driven Ontario’s agricultural agenda has become,” said Mark Brock, GFO chair. “Our minister of agriculture appears to be taking his marching orders from the minister of environment, while Liberal MPPs in ridings where agriculture matters are just sitting on their hands while we get unfairly targeted here.”
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Last fall, the province of Ontario unveiled proposed regulations to cut the use of neonicotinoid seed treatments on corn and soybeans by 80 percent.
Glen Murray, Ontario’s minister of the environment, has said the regulations are needed to protect bees and the wider environment. The province plans to implement the regulations July 1.
GFO has said the regulations aren’t based in science, and the province has ignored farmer proposals and efforts to mitigate the potential risks of neonics. The farm organization has been highly critical of Murray, suggesting he’s on a mission to limit the use of many agricultural pesticides and push farmers toward organic production.
The GFO was frustrated, even angry, earlier in May, when the province appointed an anti-pesticide advocate to the Ontario Pesticide Advisory Committee.
“It’s not appropriate for someone calling for a ban on pesticides to reasonably evaluate these important tools,” Brock said. “But this is the type of person Glen Murray wants to hear from.”
GFO members plan to protest in Peterborough outside the office of agriculture minister Jeff Leal and in London outside the office of MPP Deb Matthews.
Contact robert.arnason@producer.com
