Federal Government weakens pesticide regulation. Scientists and environmental groups push back.

May 25, 2026 (updated June 20) – Buried in budget-related bills passed by Parliament in June 2026 are provisions that weaken the protection of Canadians from exposure to harmful pesticides.

Since it first came into effect in June 2006, Canada’s Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) has set protection of human health as the highest priority in federal pesticide regulation. Under the new rules, the government will allow federal Cabinet to override restrictions placed on pesticides by regulators in cases where the continued use of a product is judged (in the view of Cabinet) to be economically justified, despite known or suspected health risks.

In addition, scientific re-evaluations of pesticides, which had been previously required every 15 years, can now be set aside in favour of vague assessments that prioritize “national economic security, regional economic security or national food security.” These economic-based criteria are not defined in the legislation. For example, it is not clear whether costs to the health care system, resulting from continuing use of pesticides that are harmful to human health, will figure in Cabinet’s decisions. Further, the new kinds of “assessments” of pesticide risks will not involve public participation, as re-evaluations formerly did.

A group of 21 environmental scientists from 13 universities across the country have written to MPs, objecting to the government’s amendments to federal pesticide legislation.

“There is no scientific or other reasonable basis to have a regulatory decision overridden by Cabinet after Health Canada has conducted extensive reviews and makes decisions on the determination of pesticide product registration,” the group wrote. “We are concerned that this will lead to reduced public trust in the regulatory process and further erode scientific evidence-based decision-making.”

In a statement, Bronwyn Roe, Healthy Communities program director for the non-profit environmental law organization, Ecojustice, warned that the “federal government is now quietly weakening the key law that is supposed to keep Canadians, and our ecosystems, safe from the dangers of these chemicals.” She added, “People, pollinators, and the planet are all at risk from pesticide deregulation.” An Ecojustice blog and news release have further details.

Take Action to Keep the Regulatory Focus on Health Protection

Ecojustice has prepared a sign-on letter objecting to the legislative changes, to be sent to local Members of Parliament, the Ministers of Health, Environment and Finance, and to the Prime Minister. You can read, sign and send the letter here.