Taking a Closer Look at What Was Said

Kevin Klein, Manitoba Minister of Environment and Climate

In a written statement to CTV News Winnipeg (reported on May 31, 2023), the Minister said the following, in defending the provincial government’s repeal of Manitoba’s cosmetic pesticide ban: “We are in line with Health Canada and the rest of Canada. So far we have received less than 5 complaints concerning the Non-Essential Pesticide Use Regulation.”

Hmm … let’s dig a little deeper here.

“We are in line with Health Canada …”
ONLY PARTLY TRUE. The Province appears to rely on assurances of acceptable risk given by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency, which approves pesticides that can be sold and used in Canada. However, it is notable that Health Canada also says, “It is good practice to reduce or eliminate any unnecessary exposure to pesticides.” (Health Canada, “Pesticides and Health”, 2007.) Manitoba’s roll-back of the cosmetic pesticide ban is resulting in widespread and unnecessary exposure to pesticides, despite Health Canada’s recommendation.

“We are in line with … the rest of Canada.”
FALSE. As of May 2023, six provinces have varying types of restrictions on cosmetic pesticides used on lawns (NL, PEI, NS, NB, QC, ON). In British Columbia, more than half of the population is covered by municipal restrictions. Using the most recent population data from Statistics Canada and the Government of British Columbia, we find that the current population of the rest of Canada is 38,134,456, of whom 30,222,272 are protected by cosmetic pesticide restrictions. In short, Manitoba is out of line with 79 per cent of the rest of Canada.

“So far we have received less than 5 complaints concerning the Non-Essential Pesticide Use Regulation.”
MISLEADING. The time frame in the Minister’s statement is unspecified. But the claim that fewer than 5 complaints have been received completely ignores the voices of more than 30 health and environmental organizations who have urged the Province to maintain restrictions on cosmetic uses of pesticides. Of these groups, the Manitoba College of Family Physicians includes over 1,600 members. Other groups, such as the Manitoba Lung Association, Learning Disabilities Association of Manitoba, Public Health Association of Manitoba, Manitoba Eco-Network and the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, represent thousands more. As well, a province-wide poll at the time the legislation was repealed found that over half of Manitobans support restrictions on cosmetic pesticides. In other words, there are not just 5 individuals (or stakeholder groups) who have objected to the roll-back of the ban.