The Council replies: Letters to the editor

SPP co-operation framework on pesticides is alarming

Stuart Trew
The Ottawa Citizen
October 3, 2007
Re: Canada won't copy U.S. toxin regulations, Oct. 1.

Rita Smith, spokesperson for Health Minister Tony Clement, claims that: "We are not harmonizing" toxic chemical regulations with the United States. "We are co-operating" It's a nuance that won't help Canadians understand, let alone feel comfortable with, trilateral negotiations under the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP).

On Aug. 21, at the third annual SPP summit in Montebello, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Canada's participation in a regulatory co-operation framework agreement with the United States and Mexico. According to a new study from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the goal is the harmonization of standards across the continent.

We got a hint of what this means in news about increased pesticide residues on hundreds of Canadian fruits and vegetables to match U.S. levels ("Canada lowers standards on pesticide use on fruits, vegetables to match U.S. limits," May 8). Stricter pesticide rules were considered a "trade irritant" under NAFTA, but the process of eliminating them acquired new urgency under the SPP.

Mr. Harper's new regulatory co-operation framework will guarantee that stricter rules on toxic chemicals and other harmful substances are also phased out because of their negative impact on Canada-U.S. relations. The Bush administration is under siege from its own scientists for ignoring legitimate public health warnings in an effort to deregulate industries across the board.

Whether we're "harmonizing" or "co-operating" with that kind of regime is irrelevant. The end result of regulatory harmonization, and agreements like the SPP in general, is that corporate profits get a boost at the expense of public health and the environment.

Stuart Trew, Ottawa
Researcher, The Council of Canadians

Visit IntegrateThis.ca for more information about the SPP.