NB Pan government for lack of movement on glyphosate use Stop spraying – New Brunswick | Globalnews.ca

The governing New Brunswick is giving the Tories a failing grade when it comes to reining in the use of glyphosate on public lands.

The group released its annual report card on Friday, giving the government an F, the Liberals a D+, and the Greens a B+.

President of SSNB Caroline Lube-d’Arcy says the group is disappointed by the lack of action on a slate of recommendations made by a committee of the legislature in November.

“They’re obviously taking forever and we’re just holding our breath to see what will happen,” she said. “On action in forestry management I think there is generally one major disappointment that needs to be turned in New Brunswick.”

The Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Management held several hearings on herbicide spraying last June and September. Most of the presentations focused solely on the use of glyphosate in the forestry industry, particularly on Crown land.

Stop Spraying New Brunswick has called for a complete ban on the herbicide on public lands, pointing to potential adverse effects to the province’s ecosystem as well as its human and animal populations.

Glyphosate is approved for use and regulated by Health Canada. It is listed by the World Health Organization as a Possibly Carcinogen, in the category of people working in bacon and overnight shifts.

The committee released a report in November with 20 recommendations, including a comprehensive review of the province’s forestry practices, as well as what would be the impact of increasing the sprinkler set-back to one kilometer from human habitation and banning the use of glyphosate.

But little has been said by the government since those recommendations were issued.

“Lip service is one thing but I think it’s time for some concrete action,” said SSNB board member Kim Koop.

“It’s been a long time without any momentum and I think the recommendations would be a starting point and get the ball rolling.”

A spokesman for the Department of Environment and Climate Change said they would report to the committee “in the coming months”.

“These are complex recommendations. Some items are in the works, while some are still being reviewed to understand the impact,” Vicky Lutz said in an email.

Lutes did not elaborate on which recommendations are already underway.

During last June’s hearing, representatives of some forestry producers in the province argued that glyphosate spraying is the most effective method for managing cut-blocks in the province. He said the herbicide is used on about a third of cut-blocks to clear fast-growing hardwood vegetation and allow softwood trees to grow faster and in greater densities, allowing the industry to grow smaller. To allow more crop to be taken from the footprint.

Others argued that current forestry practices that replace natural hardwood and softwood mixes in favor of softwood monocultures have detrimental effects on the province’s ecosystems and biodiversity.

Natural Resources Minister Mike Holland said at the time that his primary concerns when approaching the issue of herbicides are conservation and habitat regeneration, which he says may not conform to the methods currently employed in forestry.

“To me, the use of an herbicide, if it involves industry, for the smallest footprint that we possibly can,” Holland said.

The province has committed to doubling the protected areas in the province to 10 percent by April next year, but that gives little comfort to the SSNB, who say the number needs to be closer to 30 percent.

“It’s like giving a child an A for an essay that deserves a C,” Lubbe-d’Arcy said.

“We must start being honest about the efforts and actions of our government and not praise when they are not worth it.”