Toxic Free Canada, the Wilderness Committee and supporters are gathering on Saturday August 21, 2010 at 11:00am outside Canadian Tire at Cambie and 7th in Vancouver to inform members of the public about Canadian Tire selling harmful pesticides that have been banned for use in the city as well as in over 30 other municipalities across BC.

“It’s surprising for many people that a such an iconic Canadian company, proudly supporting many local community projects would sell dangerous products without identifying that use of these products is banned in the municipality, leaving consumer open to the risk of fines and threatening their health,” says Toxic Free Canada coordinator, Emily-Anne Paul. “We are asking that Canadian Tire do what its competitors, Home Depot and Rona, have done and remove these pesticides from their shelves.”

By not identifying what products cannot be used in the municipality Canadian Tire is putting the customer at risk for fines starting at anywhere from $250 to $2,000 in Vancouver. The by-law enforcement process is complaint driven.

“Basically Canadian Tire is saying to people in Vancouver that making money is more important to them than community health and safety” said Ben West, Healthy Communities Campaigner for the Wilderness Committee. “This leaves people in the city to snitch on their neighbours if they are worried that pesticide use on a neighbour’s lawn posses a threat to the health of their family” said West.

Cosmetic pesticides, those used to kill unwanted plants such as dandelions and other weeds, contain many active ingredients that are classified as human carcinogens, reproductive toxins, endocrine-disrupting chemicals or neurotoxins. These chemicals have negative impacts on the environment when they travel through groundwater and storm drains into rivers and oceans, and on human health, especially children who are the most venerable to exposure.

Two Canadian provinces, Ontario and Quebec, have recognized the negative impact of these products and have banned them outright. Across B.C. however, municipalities can only ban the use of these products; the sale of them is regulated by the province. However many retailers have acted to remove the pesticides from their shelves in respect of the bylaws restricting their use.

“We hope that by drawing attention to what Canadian Tire is doing this company will realize that the public won’t stand for being put at risk We won’t let up the pressure until they take these poisons off their shelves” said Paul.

“At the end of the day “the BC government should listen to the people of the province who overwhelmingly support a ban on these products” said West. “When polled 80% of British Columbian’s supported a ban on cosmetic pesticide's so why is the government dragging their heels? Every day without a ban means more people and children are exposed to dangerous toxins” said West.

For more information please contact:

Ben West, Wilderness Committee, Healthy Communities Campaigner, 604-710-5340

Emily-Anne Paul, Toxic Free Canada Coordinator, (604) 725-3443