Public health organizations call on federal government to stop weakening pesticide safeguards
Ottawa, June 15th 2026 – Proposed changes in Bills C-30 and C-31 would undermine science-based pesticide regulation and put health protection at risk.
The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) and Victimes des pesticides du Québec (VPQ), an initiative led by the Association pour la santé publique du Québec (ASPQ), are calling on the federal government to remove proposed changes to the Pest Control Products Act from Bills C-30 and C-31 and launch a transparent, public review of Canada’s pesticide regulatory framework.
The organizations warn that the proposed amendments would weaken safeguards that protect people in Canada from the health and environmental risks associated with pesticides. The changes would introduce broad considerations related to economic security and food security into pesticide decision-making and allow Cabinet to authorize or continue certain pesticide uses even when the Minister of Health has concluded that the environmental risks are not acceptable.
Bill C-31 would also replace mandatory periodic re-evaluations of registered pesticides with an assessment process that could result in fewer full re-evaluations. The organizations say this would weaken a critical mechanism for ensuring that pesticide approvals keep pace with evolving science on chronic toxicity, cumulative exposure, environmental impacts and risks to workers and exposed communities.
“Canada’s pesticide laws must put health protection first,” said Ian Culbert, Executive Director of the Canadian Public Health Association. “Economic and food security considerations matter, but they should not create a back door for overriding independent scientific review. When evidence shows that a pesticide poses unacceptable risks, governments should strengthen safeguards, not weaken them.”
ASPQ and VPQ have raised concerns that the proposed amendments would move Canada toward a more discretionary and reactive approach. They also note that people who work with pesticides, including agricultural workers, often face the greatest exposure and need stronger—not weaker—federal protections.
“Every year, Victimes des pesticides du Québec hears from people whose lives have been affected by occupational pesticide exposure,” said Pascal Priori, Coordinator of Mobilization for ASPQ and coordinator of VPQ. “These are not abstract regulatory questions. They affect workers, families and communities. Canada is already late by allowing 121 pesticides forbidden elsewhere for their risk. Federal law must protect people from preventable harm.”
The organizations also question the use of budget implementation bills to make significant changes to the Pest Control Products Act. They say amendments of this magnitude deserve a dedicated parliamentary study, meaningful public consultation and full consideration of the health, environmental, agricultural and trade implications.
“Canada needs a pesticide regulatory system that relies on independent science, transparency and precaution,” said Thomas Bastien, Executive Director of ASPQ. “The federal government should not advance major changes to health-protective legislation without a full public debate.”
CPHA, ASPQ and VPQ are urging the federal government to:
- Remove the pesticide-related amendments from Bills C-30 and C-31;
- Maintain mandatory, periodic and special reviews of pesticides;
- Protect the primacy of human health and environmental protection in the Pest Control Products Act;
- Ensure that pesticide decisions rely on current, independent and transparent scientific evidence;
- Conduct the long-overdue comprehensive review of the Pest Control Products Act before making major legislative changes.
“People in Canada should have confidence that pesticide approvals rest on the best available science and a clear commitment to protecting health,” Culbert added. “These proposed amendments would move Canada in the wrong direction and undermine people trust.”
For more information contact:
Dolores Gutierrez, Communications & Marketing Officer
Canadian Public Health Association
Telephone: 613.725.3769, ext. 190
communications@cpha.ca