The UVSS is committed to upholding all of our core values, including environmental sustainability. The recent passing of Bill C-30, and the possible introduction of Division 13 of Bill C-31, directly contradict this goal. To uphold our commitment, we want to share the impacts of these bills and what they mean for students.
Bill C-30 was passed in June of this year and makes major changes to the Pest Control Act. This Bill allows the federal government to use emergency measures to authorize temporary use of pesticides. This is allowed even if the Minister of Health and the Pesticides Regulatory Directorate deems them unacceptable.
Now a new bill, Division 13 of Bill C-31, would go further. Health Canada currently must reevaluate each registered pesticide at least every 15 years, using the latest science. Division 13 would replace this with a review of information already on hand, with a full re-evaluation only if risks have increased significantly, a threshold the bill never defines.
All of this comes as Canada still authorizes 121 highly hazardous pesticides banned in the EU, and as Health Canada’s pesticide division must cut about 31% of its staff. Farmers, health and environmental groups, and 21 Canadian pesticide scientists have called on MPs to drop Division 13.
As an undergraduate community committed to a sustainable future, we refuse to accept weaker protections as the new normal. Here are some things you can do:
- Sign the House of Commons petition opposing the Bill C-30 pesticide changes (e-7803, linked below).
- Share the petition and this statement with your friends, classmates, and family.
- Contact your MP and ask them to support repealing the pesticide amendments made through Bill C-30 and removing Division 13 from Bill C-31.
In Solidarity,
University of Victoria Student Society (UVSS) and Campus Community Garden (CCG)