Consultation – Proposed ban of strychnine

Special to the Post

Jim Eglinski, Member of Parliament for Yellowhead, is informing residents that Health Canada has quietly launched a public consultation on a proposed ban of strychnine. Strychnine is a registered pesticide used by growers to control ground squirrels, which are more commonly known as gophers.

The Pest Management Regulatory Association (PMRA), under Health Canada, is proposing to “cancel the registration of Maxim two per cent Liquid Strychnine Concentrate, and to require removal of ground squirrel use from the label of S.A.R.M Gopher Poison R.T.U.”The agency sites the effects on non-target animals as the reason for the review.

A previous review was conducted in the early 2000s, but found little-to-no evidence that strychnine harmed non-target animals.

“In the last review, the Conservative Party worked hard for several years to fight for farmers and ranchers, due to the plague of gophers in Western Canada. In the end, the decision was made to allow access to strychnine on an emergency basis,” stated MP Eglinski.

The consultation period, which is taking place over the summer, and during harvest season, closes on September 27, 2018.

Conservative MPs are requesting an extension of the consultation period in order to give farmers and ranchers an opportunity to comment following their very busy harvest season.

“Gophers do an incredible amount of destruction to crops and their ground tunnels pose a risk to livestock. Preventing the use of strychnine to address the issue, without indication of secondary harm, is unacceptable,” concluded MP Eglinski.

For more information and to participate, visit: www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/ consumer-product-safety/pesticides-pest-management/public/consultations/proposed-reevaluation-decisions/2018/strychnine.html