I confess to being very…

I confess to being very alarmed about the proposed amendments to the current pesticide regulations. As an organic farmer, the flagrant disregard for our fragile and endangered ecosystems is a cause for ongoing concern. While I understand the burden excessive regulations place on many stakeholders, I feel that protection of our ecosystems and pollinators in particular should be paramount.

The scientifically demonstrated role that neonicitinoids play in colony collapse are well documented and beyond refute. Many indigenous honey bee species are already teetering on the brink of extirpation, we need to be strengthening their protections not watering them down.

We operate an orchard in Lanark county and I can say without reservation that we do not have enough pollinators to do the job. This is evidenced every spring when we compare the flower set with the fruit set in our orchard. As it is, our colonies die off in laraming numbers every spring when we unwrap our hives. We are surrounded by conventional farms and the widespread re-introduction of neonicitinoids would be catastrophic to our livelihood. Apple and plum trees aren't of much value if we do not have any bees to pollinate them. Our farm feeds 200 local families for 26 months of the year.

I urge you to reconsider the proposed amendments and leave the current regulatory structure intact. And IPM approach to pest management is the only responsible way forward. To do otherwise threatens the viability of our farm operation and the long term viability of our eco-system. Allowing widespread preventative application of neonics without any oversight is quite honestly another nail in our coffin. We cannot afford to roll back the scant protections already in place. If anything they need to be strengthened.

Your government, after all is Conservative. I urge you to live up the "CONSERVE" aspect of your moniker.

Sincerely
Scott Sigurdson

Indian Creek Orchard Gardens
919 Sugarbush Road
Pakenham, ON K0A 2X0
(613) 914-7444