Our fight against bee-killing neonic pesticides just got one of its biggest boosts ever -- and it’s time to ride the momentum into a Canada-wide ban. With Quebec and Ontario already on board with severe restrictions, we’ve never been closer to saving the bees.

In a landmark decision, France adopted an outright ban on neonicotinoids -- over and above EU restrictions, and exactly what scientists have been demanding for years if we want to save pollinators and the one-third of our food supply that relies on them.

Justin Trudeau was asked during the election campaign whether he would institute a ban on bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides. He answered that the Liberals were "a party of evidence-based policy." The science is in, Prime Minister. Ban neonics, save the bees.

Will you ask Justin Trudeau to follow France’s bold lead and ban bee-killing pesticides?

We’ve known this was coming. Europe temporarily banned neonics two years ago and a US-based court recently ruled that the Dow Chemical neonic sulfoxaflor should never have been approved. Even corporations are coming on board. Last month, a German supermarket chain, one of the largest in Europe, promised to ban any produce treated with neonicotinoids from its stores.

And not a moment too soon -- because the situation is getting more and more urgent by the week. Last year, one study discovered that neonics aren't just killing bees that ingest the toxins, they're killing birds too. Some butterfly populations in Britain declined by 60% in just one decade -- over the same period neonicotinoid use increased at its fastest-ever rate.

Canada has a long, strong relationship with France and Trudeau is ready to put his stamp on a post-Harper Canada. What better way to honour both than by saving the bees?

Justin Trudeau, Canada needs a nationwide ban on neonics. Show your leadership and save the bees.

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More information:

France moves towards full ban on pesticides blamed for bee losses, Reuters, Mar 18, 2016