Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to the witnesses who shared their comments by teleconference. They provided a good overview of bee health issues and the multiple factors causing those issues.
I represent Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, in Quebec, home of a number of major beekeepers, but also many farmers.
My first question is for Mr. Kevan.
Last week, the Federal Court ruled that Canada must review over 350 pesticides used in the country. A number of groups said that the Canadian government therefore needed to conduct a special review. You spoke about the importance of international treaties and noted that, according to the Federal Court, some pesticides used in Canada are banned in Europe, including atrazine, which has been banned in Europe since 2004.
Can we take the opportunity to conduct a review? You said we are dealing with a great deal of misinformation and misconceptions on the subject of neonicotinoids. What is said is often prompted by special interests. Some producers in my constituency say there are few independent studies or more neutral positions to use as a reference. You said that balance was lacking.
Whether through a pesticide review that must be conducted by the government or through other means, how could we encourage better research?
What do you think about the review?