During the spring 2026 parliamentary sitting, the Government of Canada adopted sweeping changes to pesticide regulation under Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the spring economic update. Bill C-30 gave Cabinet new powers to modify – and in some cases reinstate – pesticide registrations on “economic” and “food security” grounds, fundamentally altering the policy environment for protecting Canadians from harmful agricultural chemicals and additives.
Now, during the fall 2026 parliamentary sitting, the Budget 2026 implementation act, Bill C-31, proposes to remove the current requirement that registered pesticides undergo comprehensive scientific re-evaluations every 15 years with public input, replacing it with poorly defined “assessments” – undermining important safety checks.
Bill C-31 has been fast tracked, so there has been no consultation or opportunity for study by Parliament’s health and environment committees of those pesticide measures. A broad coalition of independent scientists, as well as health and environmental organizations have called for the pesticide amendments to be removed from the Bill.
Canada’s pesticide regulatory system has evolved as scientific evidence and our understanding of risks have improved. Products initially considered safe have later been restricted or removed as new evidence revealed unacceptable risks to human health or the environment. COG believes regulatory decisions should continue to be independent and grounded in the best available science.
For more than 50 years, COG has worked to advance organic and regenerative agricultural systems that protect soil, biodiversity, water quality, and human health while supporting productive and economically resilient farms. Strengthening farming systems that reduce reliance on synthetic pesticides is an investment in long-term resilience and food security. Supporting farmers must go hand in hand with strong, science-based regulations.
Contact your Member of Parliament and urge them to support removing the proposed amendments to the Pest Control Products Act from Bill C-31 and retaining mandatory, comprehensive pesticide re-evaluations.