Bee Alert

ACTION ALERT / February 5, 2014

Tell the Senate to Speak Out Against Neonicotinoid Pesticides

The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry is now holding hearings on widely-used, bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides. The committee has invited beekeepers, grain-farmers, and scientists to present evidence at the hearings.

The Senate Committee will undoubtedly hear a repeat of what the Ontario Bee Health Working Group heard last summer -- that something was wrong and the beekeepers want a moratorium on the prime suspect: neonicotinoid pesticides.

Noenicotinoids are sprayed on almost all the corn and soybean seeds grown in Canada (roughly 1 million bags of corn seed in Ontario alone).

Beekeepers and scientists -- armed with massive amounts of both scientific research and direct experience --have clearly illustrated the devastating effects of neonicotinoid pesticides on bees and other pollinators. These experts, as well as others concerned about neonicotinoid poesticides, hope Senators will listen to their testimony and recognize the undeniable fact that these pesticides are wiping out a species crucial to our ecosystem and food production.

As much as 40% of our food crops are threatened as a result of the bee-killing pesticides. Despite the incriminating global body of evidence against neonicotinoids, however, grain farmers and the pesticide industry are fighting a moratorium, saying the bee-killing pesticides are "essential" to their operations.

The Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) bowing to pressure from lobby group Croplife and the pesticide industry -- shockingly punted any action on the bee-killing pesticides until at least 2016. CropLife is led by newly minted President & CEO Ted Menzies, a former Conservative MP.

This inaction is unacceptable. In light of the damage caused by these pesticides, action must be taken as soon as possible.

A Senate recommendation to take speedier action could go a long way towards forcing the PMRA to do the right thing and institute a moratorium on these devastating toxins.

TAKE ACTION

I am urging you today to take action for our pollinators by sending a letter and making a phone call. Senators and MPs say letters and phone calls are much more persuasive than emails so let's be heard together.

So please, call and write one -- or all -- the committee members. You can find all the information you need below.

You don’t need to be an expert. They will be listening to the experts in the hearings. Just politely tell them you want them to do the right thing and recommend an immediate moratorium on neonicotinoid pesticides.

This 21st Century ‘Silent Spring’ must be brought to an end now.


RELATED: Senate must heed evidence on bee killing pesticides, Media Release (January 28, 2014)


HON. PERCY MOCKLER
Room 303, Victoria Building
The Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A4
Tel: 613-947-4225

HON. JEAN-GUY DAGNAIS
Room 305, East Block
The Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A4
Tel: 613-996-7644
dageni@sen.parl.gc.ca

HON. LEO HOUSAKOS
Room 178F, Center Block
The Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A4
Tel: 613-947-4237

HON. VICTOR OH
Room 202, Victoria Building
The Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A4
Tel: 613-943-1880
victoria.deng@sen.parl.gc.ca

HON. TERRY M. MERCER
Room 371, East Block
The Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A4
Tel: 613-996-2657
terry.mercer@sen.parl.gc.ca

HON. CLAUDETTE TARDIFF
246, East Block
The Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A4
Tel: 613-947-3589
tardic@sen.parl.gc.ca

HON. NICOLE EATON
Room 208, East Block
The Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A4
Tel: 613-947-4047

HON. PANA MERCHANT
Room 205, Victoria Building
The Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A4
Tel: 613-944-7777
pana.merchant@sen.parl.gc.ca

HON. KELVIN KENNETH OGILVIE
Parliament Hill, East Block
The Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A4
Tel: 613-992-0331
kelvin.ogilvie@sen.parl.gc.ca

HON. FERNAND ROBICHAUD
Room 304, East Block
The Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A4
Tel: 613-943-0675

HON. JOANNE BUTH
The Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A4
Tel: 613-996-7146
Jbuth@SenatorButh.ca

HON. GHISLAIN MALTAIS
The Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A4
Tel: 613-996-7377
ghislain.maltais@sen.parl.gc.ca


John Bennett, National Campaign Director
Sierra Club Canada Foundation
412-1 Nicholas Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7B7
Executive.Director@sierraclub.ca
John on Twitter / Bennett Blog

For more information on the plight of the bees click here