Editor, The News:
Re: B.C. gov’t backs away from banning lawn pesticides (mapleridgenews.com)
Bill Bennett, chair of the committee looking into the future of cosmetic pesticides in B.C., said “the evidence just doesn’t support the banning of cosmetic pesticide in B.C.”
Canadians should know that government agencies do not perform any studies or tests themselves. Instead, they rely on information given to them by the pesticide industry.
There have been too many cases of industry studies and tests being skewed to suit the promotion of their own products, later to be proven unsafe.
Who doesn’t remember the ‘evidence’ that scientists presented to tell us that tobacco was safe?
It has occurred to me that perhaps Mr. Bennett’s recommendation has been made to provide an opportunity for our premier to come to the rescue of the health of British Columbians.
Now she can step forward, do a good deed and ban cosmetic pesticides, after all, earning her a big gold star in the public’s eye.
For once, I hope that Mr. Bennett is playing politics.
Sheila Pratt
Maple Ridge