The Strongroup & WhiteMoose

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http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/11/21/rona-lumber.html

Rona to cut out unsustainable wood, stop sales of cosmetic pesticides
Last Updated: Friday, November 21, 2008 | 3:14 PM ET
CBC News

Rona Inc., the largest Canadian home renovation retailer, is changing its lumber buying
policies in an effort to conserve boreal forests and will stop selling pesticides for
cosmetic purposes.

The Montreal-based company announced Friday that it is moving to do business only with
suppliers that do not contribute to deforestation and that proactively address
environmental sustainability. By the end of 2009, it aims to sell plywood panels only
from forests certified as sustainable.

The policy will apply a year later to commodity spruce, pine and fir lumber. All
suppliers will be required to prove where their wood comes from by 2011. By 2012, Rona
wants 25 per cent of its wood sales to be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, up
from two per cent now.

In a separate move, the removal of cosmetic pesticides by next July will cost the company
$20 million in annual sales, out of total revenues exceeding $6.3 billion at nearly 700
stores.

"Rona wants to play a major role in wilderness conservation as well as in the
sustainability of natural resources, while supporting Canadian consumers in their efforts
to adopt sustainable behaviours," CEO Robert Dutton said.

"Product selection is a key component by which Rona can exercise such leadership and
demonstrate its desire to protect the environment and human rights."

Greenpeace Canada hailed Rona's move as "the strongest procurement policy for wood
products in North America that we've seen."

Richard Brooks, head of the environmental group's forest campaign, described the
retailer's timetable as realistic, and said the policy "will lead to change on the ground
and better protection for the most ecologically important areas of Canada's forests."

While giving preference to the Forest Stewardship Council, Rona will also recognize two
other certifications: the Forest Products marking program and the Sustainable Forestry
Initiative. More than 1.25 million square kilometres are certified under the three
standards, 19 per cent by the Forest Stewardship Council.
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Warning Industry Propaganda Below


=========================





Monday, November 24, 2008





Calgary Herald





Baffling ban good politics





by Will Verboven





Local green lobby groups are crowing about the intent of the Alberta
government to ban the sale of weed and feed lawn care products. It will
change nothing, of course--cancer rates will not rise or fall and our
waterways will not contain less chemicals. There never was any
scientific evidence to demonize the product in the first place, it was
just an easy target and the kind of cheap politics elected officials
are quick to embrace.





Actually, it's no loss to homeowners either. My experience with the
product is its dosage is so low it hardly has any effect on weeds. The
chemical herbicide ingredient 2-4D has been around for so long I expect
some weeds eat it for breakfast. The Alberta government claims more
than 10 times





The required amount of herbicide can be applied when weed and feed is
used--a rather misleading statement, considering applying the product
more than just a few times would see the nitrogen fertilizer component
of the product burn and kill your grass.





The irony of the partial banning of 2-4D is it's by far the safest and
most benign of herbicides for use in lawn weed control. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency spent 17 years reviewing hundreds of
studies and found it was perfectly safe to use as directed and there
was no link to any cancers. But then, common sense and the facts have
never been part of this issue.





Even the Alberta government's press release seems to have become
infected with bafflegab. The minister pontificates about mass
application and reducing chemical run-off into waterways. Really, since
when did 2-4D become such a problem? It's been around for 50 years
--why wasn't it a problem before? Are there studies showing it is
increasing or decreasing? How do we know if weed and feed is even the
problem--is it one per cent or 20 per cent of the problem, compared to
agricultural use?





It's also rather curious the Alberta government picks on 2-4D. A number
of years ago the Calgary Herald reported on high levels of strontium 90
(a toxic, radioactive substance) in Chestermere Lake sediments that was
deposited there by storm drain run-off from Calgary streets. Surely,
that indicates there are far worse chemical substances than 2-4D in our
waterways. I would expect our government to be taking steps to advise
us of what chemical substances are in our waterways and what they are
doing about it--banning the sale of 2-4D seems rather lame when it
appears to be a lesser of evils.





The government is adding to the nonsense by stating 2-4D levels in our
waterways are within the recommended federal threshold--would that be
one part per billion or two parts per trillion? How much is a lethal
dose? I suspect there is more disease-bearing beaver poop in our water
than 2-4D. Cities in Canada add vast quantities of chlorine and
fluorine into our water--what about the cumulative effect of those
products on our waterways? What about the chemicals the government
hasn't told us about? Or is banning weed and feed just a diversionary
tactic?





Fortunately for green lobby groups, the minister did not ban the use of
2-4D completely. If he had, these groups would have lost a surefire
publicity gimmick.





The reality is these groups need a steady supply of causes to keep donations flowing in from gullible citizens.





By only going halfway with a complete ban, it gives green groups the
opportunity to continue their crusade and their quest for more income
--after all, they have businesses to run, too.





For homeowners the minister will allow the use of 2-4D for spot
applications to kill weeds, which begs the question: how will the
inevitable increased use of more concentrated spot applications be any
different from the present use of low-level dosage weed and feed?





Well, one has to admire the minister's political astuteness. In one
move he partially placated green lobby groups, voters who like
weed-free lawns and the commercial lawn care industry, without
disrupting agricultural use.





Now, can the government please return to dealing with real problems?





Will Verboven is editor of Alberta farmer, and a frequent contributor to the Calgary herald.





© The Calgary Herald 2008





http://www.canada.com/components/print.aspx?id=d6a8f29c-971e-4060-83bd-d9c4e3c2d43a&sponsor=
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We need your help right away!

Ontario has just released regulations for its new pesticide ban. The regulations are very health-protective but unfortunately the chemical industry is lobbying hard to weaken them. We need your help to keep them strong.

Could you take two minutes right now to tell Ontario that you strongly support the new pesticide regulations?

Please click on this Ontario government website and make the following comment in the comment box:
http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/searchComment.do?actionType=add&noticeId=MTA0OTk2&statusId=MTU3MjYz&noticeHeaderIdString=MTA0OTk2

1. I strongly support the pesticide regulations and hope they will come into effect by Spring, 2009.
2. The regulations will help Ontario industry become innovators in non-toxic lawn care, creating economic growth and green jobs.
3. I hope the government will also require golf courses to reduce pesticide use.

After writing your comment, please hit the "save" button to submit it.

Thank you so much!

All the best,

Stephen Hazell
Executive Director

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Nov 25 ,2008



Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick



Speech from the Throne



New Brunswickers are committed to strong communities and the respect of our natural resources.



Your government will move forward with legislative changes to reflect
the recent consultation regarding lawn care and landscape pesticide use.



A new reporting requirement for municipalities and water and wastewater
commissions will be implemented. Owners and operators of these systems
will be required to report annually on how well they are operating
their water and wastewater management systems.



Over the course of the session, your government will release the report
of the Commissioner on the Future of Local Governance and will respond
accordingly.



http://www.gnb.ca/cnb/Promos/Throne-2008-09/TS-e.asp
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November 27th 2008

Orleans Star / Weekly Journal
Resident launches fight against rodenticides

by Laura Cummings

Fallingbrook resident Joëlle Lefebvre wants stronger pesticide regulations after her
11-year-old cocker spaniel died this past July. File photo

As the provincial government gears up the public feedback period for its proposed
pesticide ban, one east-end resident is speaking out in support of stronger regulations
for rodenticides after the death of her pet this summer.

Joëlle Lefebvre’s 11-year-old cocker-spaniel, Belle, died this past July after ingesting
a long-acting anti-coagulant rodenticide.

“When the vet told us (rat poison had killed her), we just couldn’t believe it,”
recounts the Fallingbrook resident, who never let her dog off her property without a
leash, and believes the rodenticide was carried into her yard after improper use by
someone in the community. “We had no idea that could happen.”

With the Ontario government requesting comment on its proposed toxics reduction strategy
– including a potential pesticide ban – until Dec. 22, Lefebvre says she is hoping to
inform residents the existence of rodenticides mean they “have to rely on consumers’
good judgment” when it comes to purchasing separately-sold bait stations for the
rodenticide and properly following the label on how to load and where to place them.

“(The new provincial regulations) are not going far enough – there’s no change,” she
continues, pointing to the lack of a ban for most classes of rodenticides. “I’m hoping
they sell it behind closed cabinets at the very least. I think it should be used by
professionals (only).”

Since Belle’s death, Lefebvre explains she has gone through mountains of research,
trying to determine what rules and regulations surrounding rodenticides exist.

In Quebec, she continues, the products are sold in a locked cabinet and must be
retrieved by an employee – in comparison to Ontario, where rodenticides are accessible
on open shelves, even lower ones. In the United States, Lefebvre adds, they “go even
further” and sell the rodenticide pellets in pre-loaded bait stations, instead of the
province’s separate stations, as well as using sales, distribution and packaging
restrictions.

But even with her pet’s recent death, it’s the potential danger to children that has
Lefebvre up in arms.

“Belle was 30 pounds,” she continues, adding that rodenticides are now so potent they
have the ability to kill an animal – or child – of that weight, and quickly.

“My main point is the danger for children,” Lefebvre says.

And though there are penalties for misusing rodenticides, ranging from a $20,000 fine to
one-year imprisonment, Lefebvre suggests it’s difficult to determine whether misconduct
has occurred – in her own situation, Health Canada would not place any information about
the incident on their website because she didn’t know what rodenticide killed Belle.

Geoff Cutten, senior pesticide regulatory scientist for Ontario’s Ministry of the
Environment (MOE), explains that rodenticides aren’t included in the cosmetic pesticide
ban because they are considered structural, meaning they are used indoors and around
buildings “to stop rodent access.”

Current standards “seem to work well in most cases,” he continues, though the ministry
has seen some in the past where a child or domestic pet have been able to access the
poison.

“We haven’t had a lot of them,” Cutten adds.

In terms of penalties for misuse, he says either the ministry receives a call or an
officer completing an inspection notices improper use, with potential charges from both
the provincial and federal levels of government.

Labelling those products, however, falls under federal jurisdiction, Cutten continues,
adding that “anybody in their right mind” would consider the pre-loaded stations to make
more sense.

The feds are likely looking into changing those requirements, he says, explaining that
labels do already specify how the rodenticide should be treated and where the stations
should be placed.

Ottawa-Orléans MPP Phil McNeely, meanwhile, says he has received a letter detailing
Lefebvre’s concerns, and plans on looking into the issue further.

“We have sent a letter to the MOE through our Toronto office so we do get a response,”
he explains. “Certainly it looks like there is an issue here, and we want to make sure
proper safeguards are in place for these rodenticides.”

For more information, or to comment on the pesticide ban, please visit www.ene.gov.on.ca

http://www.eastottawa.ca/article-277213-Resident-launches-fight-against-rodenticides.html

===============================

November 27th 2008

Orleans Star / Weekly Journal

The need for improved safeguards

by Patricia Lonergan

The need for improved safeguards

No one likes to be over-regulated. Sometimes government steps on the toes of individuals
and assumes no one has common sense. It can get tiresome.

However, there are times when it seems the government – which can sometimes be too quick
to add rules to how we conduct ourselves – fails to step in when it makes sense.

The perfect example is pesticides. While Ontario revisits the use of cosmetic
pesticides, potentially lethal rodenticides are still sold with little or no controls.
It’s the lack of oversight that may have led to the death of Fallingbrook resident
Joëlle Lefebvre’s 11-year-old cocker spaniel this past summer.

While toxicology tests were never performed to confirm how Belle died, the veterinarian
caring for the dog indicated the symptoms were consistent with the new generation of
anti-coagulant rodenticides, which are long-acting rat poisons.

The vet went on to say that he sees a few cases of poisoning each year.

Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment notes that current standards seem to work well,
although they admit there have been some cases in the past where a child or domestic pet
has been able to access the poison.

If there have been cases in past then that suggests there might be a problem, especially
since the ministry can only speak to cases that have been reported.

One vet says he sees a few cases each year. How many of those go unreported because the
pet owner doesn’t know where to begin? Or how many are based on symptoms alone and can’t
be backed by toxicology tests so they don’t count?

Even if there are a few cases, that’s enough to raise the red flag. It just takes one
child to be poisoned before everyone demands to know why something more wasn’t done
sooner. After all, if rat poison can kill a 30-pound dog, what does that mean when it
comes to children’s safety?

Under Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) regulations, rodenticides
are required to be put in locked box stations so children and other animals are not put
at risk. The problem is that these regulations presume the consumers will be responsible
enough to read the labels, purchase both the poison and lock stations, and follow the
rules.

This isn’t to suggest consumers are deliberately putting pets and children at risk. Many
probably want to do what’s safe, but the system has become overly complicated. There’s
an unfortunate assumption that if rodenticides are readily available in a particular
form, then it’s safe to put them out. Presumably everything that’s needed comes in the
box.

Why not just simplify the exercise and force manufacturers to sell the bait already in
the lock stations? It would solve a number of problems at once. For starters, it would
ensure everyone is abiding by the regulations. It would make for safer use of poisons.
And it would be more convenient for consumers.

The United States already requires manufacturers to sell most rodenticides in pre-baited
lock stations for domestic use. Obviously businesses are already accustomed to meeting
those rules, so to hold them to the same standard in Canada shouldn’t be that difficult.

It’s not about asking for better protection; it’s about demanding of government why it
has been so lax when it comes to ensuring regulations are met.

http://www.eastottawa.ca/article-277222-The-need-for-improved-safeguards.html
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Fri 28 Nov 2008

The Calgary Herald

Pesticide rain

Re: "Baffling ban good politics," Will Verboven, Opinion, Nov. 24.

Will Verboven seems to be ignoring a 1998 study showing that it literally rains 2,4-D in the Lethbridge area, even though that product breaks down quickly in the presence of oxygen.

In 1999, House of Commons committee members learned from Bernard Hill, a scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Lethbridge Research Centre, that precipitation helps pesticides disperse far from their source through water evaporation and condensation. Scientists believe this presence of pesticides in rain reflects the fact that Lethbridge farmers are among the greatest 2,4-D users in Alberta (more than 20,000 kilograms of 2,4-D is applied for grain production annually).

Verboven's faith in the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency is misplaced. Under the Bush administration, industry-friendly politicians called the shots at the EPA. Alberta's ban of weed and feed is a tiny step forward. Children are especially vulnerable to inhalation exposures. Residues brought indoors on children's shoes and animal paws persist in carpets for many months. Yet 2,4-D weed-killing effectiveness is limited.

I observed that weeds come back about a month after 2,4-D application. My weed-less green lawn hasn't been sprayed in many years.

I top-dress it with compost and oversewed at least once a year, add moisture-maintaining Dutch clover, keep the grass clippings and aerate in the fall.

K. Jean Cottam,
Ottawa

K. Jean Cottam is an honourary Canadian observer on the pesticide Working group in Washington.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/letters/story.html?id=4a27179d-58c1-46fd-b021-8dc791e2e627
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12.1.2008 10:05 AM



The Daily Green



Pesticides Business Booming, Despite Risks



Pesticide Makers Enjoy $52 Billion Industry - But at What Cost?

An industry report predicts the booming pesticide market will only continue to grow in the coming years.



The value of the world pesticides industry grew a staggering 29% to $52
billion in 2008, according to a new report from Specialists in Business
Information, an industry research firm. And even the economic downturn
and an ever-growing raft of studies demonstrating the risk to
ecological and human health, that growth is expected to reach to a
"multi-billion dollar crescendo" by 2013.



Like just about everything else, the world economic trouble will take
some steam out of the business in 2009, SBI envisions our addiction to
agricultural chemicals increasing over the next five years.



The trend in the U.S. mirrors the worldwide trend, with 25% growth to
$21 billion in 2008, and a forecast for a $25 billion market by 2013.



The key to protecting that vast wealth potential, according to the report: Protecting chemical makers' "image."



In other words, we can expect that chemical makers will continue to
downplay and obscure scientific research that continues to show risks
of using agricultural and landscaping pesticides.



Recent studies have linked pesticide exposure to everything from the
death of tadpoles (like those of the leopard frog, pictured here) to
diabetes in humans. While many of the harshest chemicals have been
banned, many others remain in use and several poisons banned in Europe
remain legal in the United States.



Find this article at:



http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/pesticides-47120102
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