Document Type

Working Paper

Publication Date

3-2021

Abstract

Anticoagulant rodenticides (i.e., rat poisons) are highly toxic compounds that have been recognized for decades to have devastating effects on wildlife species and the wider ecosystem. In this paper, I argue that the continued use of anticoagulant rodenticides is entirely inconsistent with the provincial and federal governments' obligations to citizens and the environment under their respective pesticide legislation, and that the governments' failure to fulfill these obligations is due in part to the refusal to acknowledge rights of nature. I provide an overview of the current statutory and regulatory framework for pesticides in Canada and examine the practical effects of the legislation, evidencing the harms associated with rodenticide use and inefficacy of these products to illustrate the dubious value of their continued registration. I further discuss the inadequacy of the implemented risk mitigation measures and viability of existing alternative methods of rodent control to support my argument that the use of rodenticides is inconsistent with the current regulatory framework. To address these inconsistencies, this paper sets out recommendations for action that can be taken in British Columbia by municipal governments and the provincial government, as well as the federal government of Canada. Examples of similar action taken in other jurisdictions are also provided.

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