Ontario is seeking public feedback on a draft action plan to improve pollinator health and reduce pollinator losses.
Pollinators, including honey bees, are essential to Ontario's agricultural sector and contribute approximately $992 million worth of economic activity annually to the economy. The province became the first jurisdiction in North America to protect bees and other pollinators through new rules introduced on July 1, 2015, to reduce the number of acres planted with neonicotinoid-treated corn and soybean seeds by 80 per cent by 2017.
Now, Ontario is looking for the public's feedback on a proposed plan to improve pollinator health that will address:
- Habitat and nutrition
- Diseases, pests and genetics
- Climate change and weather
- Pesticide exposure.
The proposed plan will be posted on the Environmental Registry until March 7, 2016. Additionally, the public can also provide input on protecting pollinator health by completing a public survey.
Supporting pollinator health is part of the government's plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes investing in people's talents and skills, making the largest investment in public infrastructure in the province's history, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives and building a secure retirement savings plan.
Source: Ontario