Evidence of meeting #44 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was corn.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
Do you know if there's a substitute for neonicotinoid-based pesticide?
President, Munro Honey & Munro's Meadery
I can tell you one thing. They're not offering it to farmers. Some farmers are looking to get something that's more bee-friendly, and the big companies are saying that they can't get it in.
They're treating every piece of corn with this product.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
Are you suggesting that there is a substitute, but they're not using it?
President, Munro Honey & Munro's Meadery
You don't need all these chemicals on the corn.
President, Munro Honey & Munro's Meadery
You can grow corn without chemicals.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
I understand that. But if you choose to, is there a substitute for a neonicotinoid-based...?
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
Okay, so we would have to investigate that further.
All right.
Did you have something to say, Mr. Schuit?
President, Saugeen Country Honey Inc.
There is a gentlemen who was planting what I thought was corn. I was so upset that I ran up to him, and I started showing him pictures on my phone. I was really upset, and he said, “By the way, who are you?” I said, “I'm sorry. I'm David Schuit. My bees are dying.”
I asked him what he was planting. He said it was actually soybeans. I said that he had chemicals on his soybeans. He said, “No, you can eat them. There's no problem.”
I was shocked, because he was actually planting soybeans without chemicals on them. He has no problem doing it. He has great success.
It seems to be that when they put those chemicals on, they get a better assurance crop. It has something to do with bringing their premiums down a bit.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
Mr. Schuit, or any of you, is there a point at which your losses will reach a threshold where the vitality, the sustainability, of your hives will be at major risk?
President, Saugeen Country Honey Inc.
I'm in real trouble. I am. I would say that my whole yard is 90% done.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
Do you know if there are other crops that are failing because of the failure or collapse of the beehives?
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
It has not happened yet.
Are you taking advantage of any programs, any business risk management programs, through the government?
President, Saugeen Country Honey Inc.
When it's chemicals, there is no coverage.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
Okay.
Finally, are you asking for any kind of moratorium, then, on the use of neonicotinoids until a full investigation is completed by American and Canadian researchers? Do you recommend that the researchers collaborate, because the issue is so serious that it would require a full investigation?
President, Saugeen Country Honey Inc.
Exactly. I understand that Holland has banned it. Germany has banned it. France has banned it. There are quite a few countries in Europe that have banned it. They see the problem with this. They love their bees.
I don't know how I'm going to swing this one.