Author: nlened
Letter to Editor: Time for a cosmetic pesticide ban
Why is it taking so long for our provincial government to make a decision regarding banning the sale and use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes ?
Close to 24 million Canadians, or 79.6% of Canada’s total population are presently benefiting from enhanced protection from unwanted exposure to synthetic lawn and garden pesticides This figure includes the best provincial protection provided under Ontario’s Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act, 2008 and Quebec’s 2003 Pesticide Management Code as well as Nova Scotia’s, New Brunswick’s and PEI’s Pesticide Acts .
Our former premier Mr Williams did an excellent job in promoting Newfoundland and Labrador as being a have province – no longer a poor cousin to the rest of Canada. However, on the issue of controlling and regulating environmental contaminants such as pesticides we are lagging far behind nationally.
Back in 2003 the Province’s Wellness Advisory Council prepared and submitted recommendations to the Minister of Health and Community Services which led to the development of the government policy document Achieving Health and Wellness: Provincial Wellness Plan. One of the eight Wellness Priorities “ in this plan was to create and maintain “environments which promote good public health” involving “ those aspects of human health and disease that are determined by physical,chemical, and biological factors in the environment such as contaminants in food, air, soil and water.”
Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador, the Cancer Society, the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association and other organizations had been asking the former minister of Environment and Conservation, Charlene Johnson, for a ban since 2009. However this is far from a relatively new issue. Over the past twelve years there have been many requests to our provincial health and environment ministers from health and environmental organizations and from individual citizens asking for improved legislation and, regulation of pesticides.
Over a month ago the Environment Minister, Ross Wiseman stated publicly that:
“I don’t want to put a day or a week on it, but I appreciate the length of time this has been in the public domain and discussed,” Wiseman said. “I appreciate too that there’s an upcoming summer, a time when these pesticides are used.” He also said said ‘he hopes to bring forward a recommendation to cabinet in the very near future”.
Well the days, weeks, months and years are passing by and it looks like another spring and summer will soon be upon us when we– our children, grandchildren, and pets will again be exposed to cosmetic pesticide contaminants in food, air, soil and water. But maybe, hopefully, wishfully the Ministers of Health and Environment are now working together on this issue and they will introduce in this session of the house new legislation similar to or better than Ontario’s. This would also be a start to working on a priority in the provincial government’s Wellness Plan in promoting wellness through better protecting our environment, and uss from exposure to toxic pesticides.
Bob Diamond
Stephenville
This letter to the editor was originally published in the Telegram on April 2. It is republished with permission of the author.
“Going Green!” at The Suncor Energy Fluvarium!
Did you know that frogs can tell us if the stream is clean?
April 22 is Earth Day, how can we make a difference?
Learn how we can help our freshwater friends by Going Green ourselves!
Saturdays & Sundays at 1:30pm April 2 – May 1, 2011
Program runs approx. 45-60 minutes
Preregistration is recommended Fluvarium
Kids Club Weekend Programs Have you heard?
Kids ages 5–10 and their families are invited to join Fluvarium Kids!
Receive updates, collect stickers, and earn a Fluvarium Kids Fresh Water Friends certificate when you attend sessions in four different months!
This Fluvarium Kids program is Family Fun and includes an outdoor component, game, story and craft!
Fluvarium Kids programs are complimentary with admission. Ask about our Annual Family Pass.
For more information contact: Denise Hennebury – 754-3474 – dhennebury@fluvarium.ca
Celebrate National Wildlife Week at Salmonier Nature Park: Three workshops
Celebrate National Wildlife Week at Salmonier Nature Park!
Meet your “Wild Neighbours of the Forest“
April 10-16, 2011
Sunday, April 10
Join Wildlife Division staff for a “Wild” time by participating in one of these fantastic workshops:
Ø Species at Risk (see a live peregrine falcon up close)
Ø Trees, Shrubs and Plants of Newfoundland and Their Medicinal Uses
Ø Coyotes in Newfoundland
Ø Wildlife Rehabilitation (get the inside story on the animals at Salmonier Nature Park)
Space is limited for all workshops. Participants must pre-register by calling 229-7888 by April 6. As the park is not open to the public, only those registered will be admitted.
Schools Go Wild at the Launch of the Robert Bateman “Get to Know” Contest!
Local Schools visit the park on April 12, 13 and 14 to officially launch and participate in the Robert Bateman Art, Writing, Photo and Video Contest. Local artist, Elizabeth Dawe, will lead an art workshop before students head out to “Meet their Wild Neighbours of the Forest” and gather ideas for their submissions to the contest. (Schools must be pre-registered).
Project Webfoot Volunteer Training Session (Ducks Unlimited Canada)
Project Webfoot Volunteer Training Session (Ducks Unlimited Canada)
April 26th, 2011 (12:30-3:30pm) – Meet at the Sobeys Community Room, Valley Mall, Corner Brook, NL
Want to Enhance your Skills as an Environmental Educator?
Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is currently looking for volunteers to help deliver wetland field trips to grade four students during the week of June 7th in Corner Brook. Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to attend a training session being held on April 26th. This session will be facilitated by Erin Heeney, DUC Education and Interpretation Specialist for the Atlantic region. Training will include an introduction to Project Webfoot followed by a run-through of field trip activities at the Glynmil Marsh in the afternoon. A light lunch will be provided.
Please RSVP for the Training Session by April 22nd.
For more information or to RSVP please contact:
Danielle Fequet
NL Conservation Programs Specialist
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Please note that all DUC volunteers are rigorously screened and must adhere to DUC policy when working with children.
In the news: Conservationists hopeful about forest management plans
Conservationists are lauding the province for withdrawing the central Newfoundland forest management plan from the environmental assessment process.
“We see it as a good news story, or a lukewarm one anyway,” said Ian Goudie of Canada Parks and Wilderness Society-Newfoundland and Labrador Chapter (CPAWS).
The withdrawal of the five-year operating plan for forest management districts 10, 11, 12 and 13 includes Abitibi lands.
Read The Telegram’s complete story.
FEASt Annual General Meeting
April 30th
Sobey’s Community Room, 8 MerryMeeting Rd.
11:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Find out what FEASt has been up to, help to sway the course for the coming year, and get involved as a member of the Board of Directors!
Spring FEASt Fest
April 16th
St. Thomas Anglican Church, 8 Military Rd.
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Mark your calendars: A day of workshops, free local food, and information to get you excited for the growing season!
More details to come soon! — http://www.feastnl.ca/
St. John’s Clean and Beautiful seeks nominations for community awards
St. John’s Clean and Beautiful is seeking nominations for our community awards. These awards will recognize the contributions of outstanding citizens, community groups, schools or businesses who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to keeping St. John’s clean and beautiful through litter management, litter reduction, education initiatives, community beautification, presentation and pride.
Please forward nominations with a brief outline of why you consider your nominee(s) to be eligible for this award. For more information about these awards and to receive a nomination form contact Karen Hickman at 570-0350.
Fax: 709-576-8246
Email: sjcab@cleanandbeautiful.nf.ca
The deadline for applications is Friday April 15, 2011
Awards will be presented at a regular City Council Meeting in May.
Lower Churchill Hydro Project – Joint Review Panel Public Hearing (St. John's)
Lower Churchill Hydroelectric Generation Project
Joint Review Panel
DAILY PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE AND ORDER OF PRESENTATIONS
Monday, April 4, 2011
Holiday Inn St. John’s (180 Portugal Cove Road)
6:30 pm Doors open – late registration (subject to availability)
7 pm to 10 pm
1. Panel Opening Remarks
2. Nalcor Energy
3. Ken LeDez
4. Sierra Club Atlantic (Bruno Marcocchio)
5. Alan Ruffman and Claude Anger (Geostorage Associates)
6. St. John’s Board of Trade (Craig Ennis)
7. Newfoundland and Labrador Oil and Gas Industries Association (Robert Cadigan)
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Holiday Inn St. John’s (180 Portugal Cove Road)
12:30 pm Doors open – late registration (subject to availability)
1 pm to 5 pm
1. Town of Holyrood (Mayor Gary Goobie)
2. Grand Riverkeeper Labrador Inc. (Najem Raheem)
3. Don Steele
4. John Gibson
5. Resource Development Council (Dave Wade)
6. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers – Local 1615 (Bob Clarke)
7. Jeremiah Perry
6:30 pm Doors open – late registration (subject to availability)
7 pm to 10 pm
1. Women In Resource Development Corporation (Daphne Hart)
2. Tracy Walzthoni
3. NunatuKavut Community Council (Chris Montague, George Russell and Greg Mitchell
Contact information:
Tom Graham, Panel Co-Manager
Lower Churchill Joint Review Panel
Secretariat
33 Pippy Place, St. John’s NL A1B 4J6
Tel.: 709-729-7720
Fax: 709-729-5693
comments@lcsec.nl.ca
Newfoundland & Labrador Environment Network 