The Government of Nova Scotia has posted a discussion paper proposing provincial legislation on cosmetic pesticides similar to that enacted in Quebec. We are of course delighted, but would like your assistance with the following . . .

Our government has launched a public consultation on this topic, and they really need responses from lots of Nova Scotians (and will happily accept input from outside Nova Scotia too.) We ask that for the protection of the health of our province’s residents you please consider responding to this discussion paper and encourage others to do the same.

For your information, the IWK Health Centre has taken a position on this issue. In a recent letter to the Minister of the Environment we summarized as follows:

The bottom line: The risks far outweigh any (questionable) benefit. Children should not be exposed to cosmetic pesticides. Studies suggest that pesticides may be associated with serious health problems for all, but in children in particular, such as problems in pregnancy and birth defects, neuro-developmental disorders, certain cancers, and other effects that might occur over a long period of time.

The answer: The use of any pesticides for cosmetic purposes should be prohibited in Nova Scotia by provincial legislation, while retaining a supplementary role for municipal governments wishing to add their own by-laws that go beyond this legislation.

To help you in responding, please follow this link to the Government's discussion paper: http://www.gov.ns.ca/nse/pests/discussing.pesticides.asp

We hope you’ll join us in protecting the health of all Nova Scotians through support of a provincial ban on cosmetic pesticide use.

Thank you.