Response and Recommendations concerning Pesticide Toxicity Report CPS2017-0510

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) submitted a response to the City of Calgary's Standing Policy Committee on June 7, 2017, regarding Pesticide Toxicity Report CPS2017-0510. CAPE argues that the report fails to meet the requirements of a November 7, 2016, City Council motion by omitting a specific list and toxicity ranking of pesticides used in the City's Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program, despite 31 of 35 products used in 2016 falling into the second-highest risk category under Alberta regulations.

• CAPE asserts that Pesticide Toxicity Report CPS2017-0510 does not fulfill the City Council motion of November 7, 2016, because it lacks a list of pesticides used in the City's IPM program, their toxicity rankings, and identification of products for discontinuation. While the report notes that 31 of 35 pesticide products used by the City in 2016 are in the second-highest risk category per Alberta regulations, it does not specify which products these are.
• The document argues that the report ignores health evidence and fails to describe health concerns associated with pesticide use, despite a Council motion to include health professionals in the review. CAPE cites epidemiological research involving over 500 studies indicating that pesticide exposure is linked to adverse reproductive, neurological, and respiratory outcomes, particularly for newborns, pregnant women, and children. Specific risks mentioned include low birth weight, pre-term births, cognitive and motor development deficits, endocrine disruption, asthma, obstructive lung disease, birth defects, and learning disabilities.
• CAPE expresses concern that the report relies too heavily on the federal Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) registration process. CAPE claims the PMRA over-relies on industry-supplied studies and neglects population-based epidemiological research and the risks of cumulative exposure to multiple pesticides. The document references a 2015 report by the federal Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development that identified serious concerns regarding PMRA processes.
• A August 2016 poll conducted by CAPE and other organizations indicated that over two-thirds of Albertans, including residents of Calgary, are concerned that pesticides threaten the health of pets and children.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (2017). Response and Recommendations concerning Pesticide Toxicity Report CPS2017-0510. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/3.CAPE-submission-to-Calgary-SPC-June-7-2017-as-filed.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Response and Recommendations concerning Pesticide Toxicity Report CPS2017-0510. 2017. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/3.CAPE-submission-to-Calgary-SPC-June-7-2017-as-filed.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Response and Recommendations concerning Pesticide Toxicity Report CPS2017-0510 |date=7 June 2017 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/3.CAPE-submission-to-Calgary-SPC-June-7-2017-as-filed.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironment2017response, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Response and Recommendations concerning Pesticide Toxicity Report CPS2017-0510}}, publisher = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2017}, month = jun, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/3.CAPE-submission-to-Calgary-SPC-June-7-2017-as-filed.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }