Canadian environmental/health regulations face U.S. corporate muscle

Post-NAFTA, it's increasingly difficult for Canada to apply its own health and safety standards and we're soon to see another confrontation. This week, Ontario Environment Minister John Gerretsen introduced a new ban on a list of products, including the weed killer, 2,4-D, to go into effect on Earth Day (April 22). The federal government is already facing a $2-million notice of legal action from DowAgro Sciences - a division of Dow Corp. - that argues a similar ban in Quebec contradicts the North American Free Trade Agreement. Gerrestsen says he won't back down where the health and safety of Ontarians is concerned.

However, the history of NAFTA challenges in Canada hasn't gone well for Canadians. Ottawa backed down in a similar situation in 1997 when Ethyl Corp. sued Ottawa for $251 over the federal ban on the gasoline additive MMT, a substance Canada considers toxic. Canada backed down and allowed the additive, setting what has been seen by environmental groups as a dangerous precedent.

Comments

[Yvonne]

I am amazed at how decisions are made about chemicals, etc.. Having lived in South America where 2 4 D was used extensively allowing you to keep your windows open all year and enjoy picnics outside without any annoying insects, and I am still alive and very well at the ripe old age of my middle eighties AND to have it banned in Canada, when I see certain chemicals used in Agriculture which are extremely dangerous enough for manufacturers to put labels on the containers saying "If you have an reaction to this product, take these two pills BEFORE calling your doctor" and what about the pure nitrogen, etc. which can cause terrible lung problems if inhaled or burns on the skin if in contact, which is sprayed on crops; this stuff will burn the grass enough to put a hole in the ground if the tank leaks. And how about the sufphur added to water -when we changed from Imperial to Metric the dosages given on the containers were so 'off', it could have killed all our cattle. I had to call the Ministry to get it fixed. Do we have problems?