The Council replies: Letters to the editor
Pests and TILMA

Eduardo Sousa
The Globe and Mail
September 1, 2007
Re: McGuinty Plans Ban On Pesticides, The Globe and Mail, August 30, 2007.

Toronto — Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty's announcement (McGuinty Plans Ban On Pesticides - Aug. 30) regarding a provincewide ban on residential pesticide use is surely to be applauded. However, it contradicts his stated support for bringing the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) to Ontario. TILMA is an interprovincial free-trade and investment agreement that guarantees investor rights across provinces. Under TILMA, an industry group like CropLife Canada wouldn't have to go through Ontario courts to try and quash the pesticide ban, as they did, unsuccessfully, in 2005. They'd go to a private three-person tribunal with a mandate to rule in favour of the market whenever possible. Pesticide bans are not market-friendly and would likely not survive such a challenge.

Eduardo Sousa, ON-QC-NU Regional Organizer

Visit Canadians.org/TILMA for more information about TILMA.