ONE NEONICOTINOID BEING BANNED BY CANADIAN GOVERNMENT

I would call it a classic case of leading from the rear. Our federal government have publicly decided that they will phase out imidacloprid over the next three to five years. Health Canada stated that "Based on currently available information, the continued high volume use of imidacloprid in agricultural areas is not sustainable". This and other neonicotinoid pesticides have been blamed for many years by scientists and others for mass bee dieoffs. The federal government also stated that new mitigation methods introduced in 2014 greatly reduced bee kills from neonicotinoid treatment of corn and soybean crops.

A Toronto based environmental group, Environmental Defence has stated that the three to five year phase-out period is too long. Health Canada are also beginning "special reviews" of two other neonicotinoids namely clothianidin and thiamethoxam.

Og great interest to me is that Health Canada's 2014 review of neonicotinoid pesticides also found that "scientific research shows long-term effects on pollinators can result from sub-lethal exposure levels. Sub-lethal exposure levels are lower levels of exposure that do not result in immediate mortality.". This is the elephant in the room for me regarding the multitude of pesticides, solvents, persistent organic pollutants and other toxic contaminants in the Canagagigue Creek sediments, soils and water. While the soluble (dissolved) contaminants have been greatly reduced over the last fifty years the rest have not. Whether all these toxins are above or below various criteria and alleged safe concentrations is irrelevant. They all have some deleterious effect upon lifeforms in and around the creek including human beings whether or not they can be scientifically measured and or proven.

Today's Waterloo Region Record carries this story titled "Feds move to ban common neonicotinoid insecticide".