Andrea HankinsonThe United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) is suing Health Canada for not enforcing pesticide safety rules. It is well past the time that Health Canada is held accountable for its negligence.
The union is pushing for better protection for workers, as well as accountability and awareness of the safety pitfalls. UFCW, represented by lawyers, claims that Health Canada is failing to enforce the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA). This act’s purpose is to bring awareness to the dangers of pesticides, as well as to protect people. If government health agencies aren’t following a health and safety act, how can it say it cares about Canadians?
Exposure to pesticides can cause a whole array of serious health issues, including nausea, burns, and a few “small issues” like cancer, neurological conditions, infertility, and liver damage. It is the responsibility of Health Canada to promote and enforce safety practices, especially when it comes to serious matters such as pesticide use. Farm workers themselves are not responsible for pesticide safety rules or providing protective equipment. The PCPA requires that all workplaces that use pesticides in Canada provide safety information and proper equipment, ensuring that pesticides do not pose unacceptable risks to people. Health Canada is failing to hold itself accountable, which is putting Canada’s farm workers in great danger.
There has been a dramatic increase in pesticide use in recent years. It is more important now than ever before that we hold the government responsible for the safety of the people, especially those working directly in these conditions. Agriculture is a large player in the Canadian economy, and disregard for the safety of our people shows systemic neglect and apathy for the safety of Canadians. The government is focusing on corporate interests rather than public safety. It has disregarded evidence of the danger of pesticides to the public, as well as ignored scientists who have raised concerns. It is the responsibility of the government to protect its citizens. If it cannot do that, how can we expect to have any faith in the Canadian government?
Farm workers and vulnerable populations should not have to endure pesticide exposure just because of neglect and laziness. This is a systemic regulatory failure, not just an isolated incident of oversight. The lawsuit against Health Canada could be a catalyst for long overdue transparency, and it could force Health Canada to move beyond industry-focused policies, and move towards genuine protection of the Canadian people. We bear the responsibility of demanding ethical treatment of those who grow our food. It is important to note that many who work on farms are migrant workers under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. They are often excluded from the already lacklustre health and safety systems in place. Many workers also fear speaking out because of the risk of job loss. By ignoring the dangers of pesticides, Health Canada is disregarding our basic human rights to safety and awareness.
The lawsuit against Health Canada is part of a broader movement toward justice and large-scale reform. It could set a legal precedent by demanding transparency and action from of the government. Canadians should not have to deal with neglect and danger. We deserve diligence and honesty from the government. The UFCW is proving that systemic neglect has gone too far. Canadians must stand with the workers who provide for us. We must demand a regulatory system that protects people instead of corporate interests.
