Federal pesticide regulators are on Parliament Hill this week to face hostile MPs and they will have some explaining to do.
Last week, Parliament’s chief environmental watchdog filed his annual report and he highlighted pesticides as a national problem.
Pest Management Regulatory Agency officials face a grilling from MPs June 1 about how they are monitoring the effects of pesticides. The meeting had not yet been held at press time.
Brian Emmett, commissioner of the environment and sustainable development, last week said the federal government has little understanding of the amount or impact of pesticides going into the environment.
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He criticized the PMRA specifically for its failure to co-operate with other federal departments.
“Cumulatively, we believe these cracks in the foundation threaten the federal government’s ability to detect, understand and prevent the harmful effects of toxic substances on the health of Canadians and their environment,” said Emmett in his annual report to Parliament.
He was specific in his criticism of Canada’s pesticide-monitoring regime.
“The government does not collect data on the release of many toxic substances,” he reported. “There are no reliable data on the levels of sales or use of pesticides. Of 22 countries responding to an OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) survey, only Canada and the Slovak Republic do not collect data on pesticide sales.”
A PMRA official said late last week a plan is in place to begin collecting pesticide company sales figures. A data bank should be ready by 2001.
In his report, Emmett said federal budget cuts have reduced the government’s ability to assess private sector scientific claims. It has reduced morale among federal scientists and led to an exodus from government.
