Question Period Note: GOVERNMENT OF CANADA FUNDING OF PESTICIDE REGULATIONS

• On August 4th, 2021, the Federal Government announced that it will begin consulting on specific provisions of the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) to consider ways to balance how pesticide review processes are initiated in Canada and increase transparency.
• In addition, the Federal Government announced a $50 million investment in Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)'s pest management research, to be supported by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
• This includes $42 million over three years to be invested in the PMRA to further strengthen its oversight and protection of human health and the environment. This includes improving the availability of independent data to further support pesticide review decisions, and the transparency of decision-making. A further $7 million will be invested to AAFC, and $1 million to ECCC in supporting work, to accelerate the research, development and adoption of alternative pest management solutions.

KEY MESSAGES:

• The Government of Canada takes pesticide safety very seriously. Pesticides are only registered in Canada after being thoroughly assessed to ensure no harm to human health or the environment will result from their use.
• Health Canada is strengthening its oversight and protection of human health and the environment. This includes increased collaboration to generate independent data and enhanced transparency of decision-making.
• The Government of Canada will begin consulting on specific provisions of the Pest Control Products Act (2002) to ensure the pesticide review process meets the expectations of Canadians in the areas of transparency and sustainability.
IF PRESSED ON FURTHER DETAIL OF THE FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT
• Health Canada will receive funding that will allow increased independent data generation (including new water and agricultural monitoring information) and create an expert panel to provide advice, when appropriate, on pesticides.
• Further details regarding the establishment of expert panels and opportunities for stakeholder participation will be provided in the coming weeks.

• In Canada, all pesticides are subject to the federal Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) administered by Health Canada. Under the Act, pesticide products must be registered, or otherwise authorized, before they may be sold or used in Canada.

• Before a pesticide is approved, it must undergo a rigorous scientific assessment process which provides reasonable certainty that no harm, including chronic effects such as cancer, will occur when pesticides are used according to label directions. Under this registration process, results from more than 200 types of scientific studies must be submitted to determine if the pesticide would have any negative effect on people, animals (including birds and insects), or plants, including organisms in the soil and water.

• The Federal Government announced that it will begin consulting on specific provisions of the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) to consider ways to balance how pesticide review processes are initiated in Canada and increase transparency. This consultation will be conducted with a broad range of stakeholders.

• The Federal Government announced a $50 million investment in Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)'s pest management research, to be supported by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).

• This includes $42 million over three years to be invested in the PMRA to further strengthen its oversight and protection of human health and the environment. This includes improving the availability of independent data to further support pesticide review decisions, and the transparency of decision-making.

• A further $7 million will be invested to AAFC, and $1 million to ECCC in supporting work, to accelerate the research, development and adoption of alternative pest management solutions.

• This new funding will increase opportunities for external parties such as non-government organizations, universities, and governments to provide independent data for consideration in the pesticide approval process, as well as allow Health Canada to increase independent data generation. It will also allow the creation of a new expert panel process to provide advice, as appropriate, prior to certain evidence-based decisions of the PMRA on pesticides.

KEY FACTS

• The Federal Government announced a $50 million investment in Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)'s pest management research, to be supported by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
• This includes $42 million over three years to be invested in the PMRA to further strengthen its oversight and protection of human health and the environment. This includes improving the availability of independent data to further support pesticide review decisions, and the transparency of decision-making.
• A further $7 million will be invested to AAFC, and $1 million to ECCC in supporting work, to accelerate the research, development and adoption of alternative pest management solutions.