Public Consultation - Pollinator Health: A Proposal for Enhancing Pollinator Health and Reducing the Use of Neonicotinoid Pesticides in Ontario - Toronto Public Meeting

Ontario is taking action to strengthen bird, bee, butterfly and other pollinator health to ensure healthy ecosystems, a productive agricultural sector, and a strong economy.

The province will consult on a proposal to reduce the use of neonicotinoid-treated corn and soybean seed. If approved, new rules on the use of neonicotinoids would be in place by July 1, 2015, in time for the 2016 agricultural planting season.

Read the announcement

Read the discussion paper

Provide written feedback on the discussion paper by January 25, 2015 (11:59 p.m.) via:

• Ontario's Environmental Registry or Regulatory Registry
• E-mail: pollinatorhealth@ontario.ca
• Mail: 
  EBR Coordinator
  OMAFRA
  Strategic Policy Branch
  1 Stone Road W., 2nd Floor SW
  Guelph, ON N1G 4Y2
• Phone: 519-826-4413
• Fax: 519-826-4375

Please reference the EBR registry number with your comments.

Attend one of the public meetings (Registration required)

Public consultation sessions will be held in December and January to seek feedback to improve the health of Ontario pollinators. Spaces and call-in lines are limited for each location and webex. However, we do not want to limit participation and will add more meetings if needed.

Public meetings - Dates and locations

• Monday, December 8, 2014; 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. - English Webex Session 1
• Tuesday, December 9, 2014; 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. - London Public Meeting
• Wednesday, December 10, 2014; 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. - English Webex Session 2
• Thursday, December 11; 9:00 a.m. to Noon - Toronto Public Meeting
• Monday, December 15, 1:00 - 3:00 - French Webex Session
• Wednesday, January 14, 2015, 9:00 a.m. to Noon - Kingston Public Meeting

Registration

To register for a meeting or Webex session and obtain location information and conference call numbers you may register online (see below) or contact the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300,ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca.