Huron-Bruce MPP says province caused problems for farmers with neonic ban

Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson is calling on Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne to fix a significant oversight in the government's neonicotinoid regulations that bans the only seed treatment in Canada that can be used for the corn flea beetle.

 

"The government has the power to fix its mistake and allow the use of seed treatment to save corn crops this season," Thompson says. "Unfortunately, the Liberals have refused to listen to the concerns of farmers and are unwilling to make any changes that would prevent the loss of crops."

 

The Liberal government has told farmers across Ontario to protect their crops from the corn flea beetle this season despite banning the only federally-approved seed treatment for this pest last year.

 

Wednesday (March 9), five busloads of farmers arrived in Toronto to attend a hearing at the Ontario Court of Appeal regarding the Grain Farmers of Ontario's lawsuit against the provincial government. The lawsuit is aimed at delaying the implementation of provincial regulations on neonicotinoid seed treatments.

 

"The facts speak for themselves," says Thompson. "The Liberals have botched the roll-out of their neonics ban so badly that they are now facing a lawsuit from farmers. Many farmers will face financial hardship if changes aren't made to the ban, but the Liberals still refuse to listen."

 

A joint report released by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the State of California, found that neonicotinoids are not a threat to honeybees.

 

The Ontario Progressive Conservative (PC) Caucus has long advocated for a science-based approach to neonicotinoids, says Thompson. Instead, the government has taken a heavy-handed approach with the agricultural sector by mandating the reduction of neonic use by 80 per cent, despite having no conclusive evidence that it may decrease bee mortality rates.