Discussion · Government Orders
Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Québécois
“This bill stops the government from reviewing pesticides every 15 years. Over 70% of people in Quebec oppose bringing back pesticides that were banned for being dangerous to people and the environment. I want the member to say if he really thinks stopping these safety checks protects science, public health, and the environment.”
“Mr. Speaker, I salute my colleague. He raised a rather important point. A budget contains more than just budgetary promises. That is true. Under Bill C-31, the government wants to suspend the re-evaluation of pesticides, which was normally required every 15 years. However, members know that Quebeckers are strongly opposed to the use of pesticides in Quebec. A recent poll shows that over 70% of Quebeckers oppose the government reintroducing pesticides that were banned because they were dangerous to humans and harmful to our environment. I would like our colleague to comment on this today. Does he believe that it is in the interest of science, in the interest of protecting public health and protecting the environment for his government to stop evaluating pesticides and to reintroduce some that were previously banned?”
Mr. Speaker, I salute my colleague. He raised a rather important point. A budget contains more than just budgetary promises. That is true. Under Bill C-31, the government wants to suspend the re-evaluation of pesticides, which was normally required every 15 years. However, members know that Quebeckers are strongly opposed to the use of pesticides in Quebec. A recent poll shows that over 70% of Quebeckers oppose the government reintroducing pesticides that were banned because they were dangerous to humans and harmful to our environment. I would like our colleague to comment on this today. Does he believe that it is in the interest of science, in the interest of protecting public health and protecting the environment for his government to stop evaluating pesticides and to reintroduce some that were previously banned?