In 2019, the Pest Management Center was funding 40 projects; now it’s 22.
The Pest Management Center’s budget has been flat for a decade, so inflation has reduced its value. Rampant inflation now will make the situation worse.
The budget for pest management alternatives has been slashed from $2 million a decade ago to $210,000 now. And then there’s also the inflation factor here again.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in his mandate letters to the agriculture and health ministers, said he wants them to work on reducing pesticide risks to workers and the public, including finding alternatives to pesticides.
All of this information and more is included in the annual report Chris Duyvelshoff prepared for the annual meeting of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. He is the organization’s crop protection advisor.
I guess the budget cutters on Parliament Hill thought nobody would notice. Maybe until they can no longer buy Canadian-grown fruits and vegetables.
