Canada's Pesticide Problem: Time for a Change

A group of almost 30 organizations is pushing for a change in how Canada handles pesticides. They want the government to stop plans that might make pesticide rules weaker. These plans were part of the latest budget. The group says the changes could hurt farmers, people's health, and the environment. The group is worried about the government's plan to stop checking pesticides regularly. This check is important to make sure pesticides are safe. Without it, the rules might favor big chemical companies more than they already do. The group also points out that a big review of the pesticide law is way overdue. This law needs to be looked at every seven years, but the last review was in 2015.Recent problems with glyphosate, a common weed killer, show that the current rules might not be good enough. A study from years ago said glyphosate was safe, but it was later found out that this study was actually written by the company that makes it. New studies show that glyphosate might cause cancer in animals and maybe in people too. The group says Canada's rules for pesticides are not as good as they should be. They don't look at the whole product, just the active ingredient. They also don't use the newest science. The group wants the government to change the rules to make them better and safer. The group has four main demands. They want the government to: 1. Change how pesticides are checked to make sure it's based on the newest science and real-world use. 2. Keep checking pesticides regularly to make sure they're safe. 3. Do a big review of the pesticide law to make sure it's the best it can be. 4. Do a special check on glyphosate and stop using it until it's proven safe.