It’s in our wildlife. It’s in our fields. It’s in our food. It’s in our water.

And, it’s toxic.

“For years now, neonicotinoid (neonic) pesticides have been poisoning our pollinators and aquatic insects. There are hundreds of scientific studies that have demonstrated the serious harm of neonics to pollinators. When I was a child, DDT was a serious threat to our wildlife. I am concerned that history is repeating itself.”

~David Browne, Director of Conservation Science,
Canadian Wildlife Federation

At the Canadian Wildlife Federation, we are working fiercely against the harmful effects of these pesticides. Watch the video to learn how neonics spreads through our environment. » Download the Infographic PDF

Our solution?

Ban With A Plan: A five step plan to remove this threat. Sign our “Ban With A Plan” Petition! »

Step 1: Ban the use of neonics.

The Canadian Wildlife Federation calls for a legislated, national ban on the use of all forms of neonicotinoid pesticides in agriculture, horticulture, turf production and golf courses. Under the ban, emergency use of neonics would be permitted for a limited number of years. However, this would only be under cases of severe pest outbreak and with a prescription from a certified agronomist.

Step 2: Give Farmers Alternatives and Incentives to Use Them

Share knowledge with farmers on alternate pesticides and pest management technologies and techniques – and provide incentives to use these, including crop insurance that protects farmers from crop failure for farmers who choose not to use neonics.

Step 3: Recover Affected Species

Recover species impacted by neonics, including wild bees, hoverflies, other insect pollinators and aquatic insects. Also help species experiencing the indirect effects of neonics due to reduced food availability, such as birds, bats and fish.

Step 4: Encourage Research and Development on Safer Pest Control Technologies

Support the development of pest-specific chemicals (or biological agents) with limited environmental effects – to encourage the development of longer term, directed products.

Step 5: Reform How the Government Protects Our Food Supply

Improve risk assessment methods for pesticides, including oversight and greater transparency in how pesticides are licensed and regulated, to ensure the seriously harmful pesticides are not licensed by the Canadian government. End the licensing of systemic pesticides.

  • Industry
    1. Develop pesticides that target particular agricultural pests, and refrain from producing systemic pesticides that are designed to be used prophylactically.
  • Consumers
    1. Sign the petition to support CWF’s plan to ban neonic pesticides
    2. Avoid buying garden seeds and plants treated with neonics, and garden or pet insecticides including neonics
    3. Avoid using household and gardening products that contain neonics

What You Can Do

Fruit seller
We’ve developed a five-step plan to not just ban neonics, but also help farmers, policy-makers and the environment recover from the devastating effects of this pesticide.

Sign the Petition! Our goal is to garner 100,000 signatures supporting the ban of neonics to the Minister of Health. This would support step one of the plan, moving us towards rehabilitating our environment from this neurotoxic insecticide.

We need to take action. All Canadians must and can be part of the solution: government, farmers, businesses, and consumers.

As Canadians, we can do better. We must do better.

Join with us. Sign the “Ban With A Plan” petition to support our plan for the future.