Mr. Speaker, a perfect storm is brewing on Canada's Prairies, and the Liberal government is refusing to act.
The exploding population of Richardson's ground squirrels and farmers' loss of strychnine to control them spells disaster for the upcoming growing season. Widespread infestations have led to severe damage to cropland and pastures. The removal of a tool that farmers have used for generations is forcing them to resort to far worse alternatives. These ineffective methods of gopher control are resulting in economic losses, more injury to livestock and a crisis for farm and food sustainability.
The Liberal agriculture minister made a commitment to farmers that he would support the application of strychnine for emergency use. The Prime Minister promised to change the mandate of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency to consider the cost of food in all regulatory decisions without putting health and safety at risk. These promises have not been fulfilled.
Canada's farmers are calling on the Liberals to support farmers' choice in pest management and approve the emergency use of strychnine for provinces that request it.