Quebec Adopts
Strict Pesticide Regulations
March 26, 2003
For full story, visit:
http://www.panna.org/resources/panups/panup_20030326.dv.html
Send a letter of support for
Québec's Pesticide Ban
Québec’s Coalition
for Alternatives to Pesticides (CAP) has asked supporters to write letters
to Québec for passing their ban, and to Montreal
in support of a proposed ban. Sample letters by CAP follow. Please personalize
your letters as much as possible.
1) Québec
The Minister of Environment
of Québec Mr. André Boisclair, to congratulate him on this
new Pesticide Management Code. This is a step in the right direction and
possibly the best legislation in Canada, and much of the world! (The population
of Quebec is around 7.5 million).
It is surprising that the
Press has not publicized this truly exceptional piece of legislation.
It is up to us now to spread the good news and make sure that the proponents
of this ban get the credit that they deserve.
This ban will encourage other
Provinces and the rest of the world to enact stricter pesticide bans in
their communities Tourism in Québec should become an attractive
and safe proposition! Several cities in Québec have strict regulations
and bans on the cosmetic use of pesticides. One big city on its way to
a ban/bylaw on pesticides in Québec is Longueuil (population -390,000).
All this is great news for
the rest of Canada and the world and it is important that our Minister
hears from you. He has been courageous, bold and honest. We all need to
support him. A letter is attached for your convenience. Please amend the
letter before sending.
Please write to Minister André
Boisclair at: depute.gouin@menv.gouv.qc.ca
Suggested: CC the Press at:
redaction@ledevoir.com; commentaires@lapresse.ca;
redaction@lesoleil.com; redaction@latribune.qc.ca;
letters@thegazette.southam.ca;
mlalonde@thegazette.southam.ca
Bcc: caponline@videotron.ca
Sample letter:
Minister André Boisclair
Ministry of the Environment
∞difice Marie-Guyart
675, boulevard René-Lévesque East, 30th Floor
Québec (Québec) G1R 5V7, Canada
Dear Minister Boisclair,
I congratulate you for keeping
your promise to all Quebecers regarding the Pesticide Code of Quebec.
I applaud your strength, courage and wisdom. You have shown us that
governments can act when there is the will to do so.
I am especially heartened that you have protected the children of Quebec
by eliminating their exposures to pesticides at schools and daycare
centers. Our children are the future and the wealth of our nations.
We must continue to protect them by actively encouraging alternatives
to pesticides and removing any substance that might be harmful to them.
It would certainly be attractive for my family and myself to visit Quebec
since the protection of human health is of importance in your Province.
I hope that other governments, including mine, will follow your example
of upholding the health of communities and environment.
Sincerely,
Your name & address
2) Montreal
The Mega-City of Montreal,
with a population of 1.8 million is holding Public Hearings on a draft
pesticide bylaw that will ban synthetic pesticide use on all green spaces
– public, commercial and private. You are invited to participate
in these hearings even if you do not live in Montreal. Please support
a strict bylaw in the form of a ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides.
Please e-mail to: dtrignac@ville.montreal.qc.ca
Bcc: caponline@videotron.ca
Sample letter to Montreal for Public Hearings:
Commission on Pesticides for
the Municipality of Montreal
Mme. Trignac, Secretary of the Commission
City Hall, 275 Notre Dame Street, East Room R 126.
Montreal H2Y 1C6
Quebec, Canada
Subject: Public Hearings
for a pesticide bylaw for the entire Mega-City of Montreal
To the President and the Members
of the Commission,
I urge you to adopt the proposed pesticide bylaw banning synthetic pesticide
use on all green spaces in Montreal.
There is a growing awareness
of the detrimental effects of pesticide use, especially on the most
fragile among us–children, pregnant women, the elderly, the immune
suppressed and those who are ill. Evidence of sharp increases in cancers,
particularly among young people as well as increases in other illnesses
justify increased precaution in placing pesticides in our midst.
The Minister of Environment, Quebec, has taken a leadership role and
has implemented the Precautionary Principle for the entire Province,
especially with regards to pesticides and green spaces. I urge you to
go further than that.
I encourage you to enact a strict bylaw to protect human health and
place Montreal on the map as a city responsible to its citizens. I hope
to hear this good news for 2003!
As a hopeful future tourist to a pesticide-free Montreal: thank you
for making my opinion count!
Sincerely,
your name and address
Quebec’s Pesticide Management
Code is available in French at
http://www.menv.gouv.qc.ca/index-en.htm. English or French copies
can be ordered at (800) 463-2100.
Contacts: Michel Gaudet
or Rohini Peris, Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (CAP), C.P.
434, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec J3V 5G8, Canada; phone (514) 683-5701;
fax (450) 441-2138; email caponline@videotron.ca;
Web site http://www.cap-quebec.com/.
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