OkotoksOnline/Harrison O'Nyons
The federal Conservatives are pressing the Liberal government to allow provinces emergency access to strychnine, a pesticide previously used to control Richardson’s ground squirrels (commonly called gophers).
In a statement released Friday, Foothills MP and Conservative Shadow Agriculture Minister John Barlow said without the use of strychnine, farmers and rural municipalities are struggling with widespread infestations and mounting costs.
"Farmers used strychnine safely and effectively for decades. Today, the alternatives are labour-intensive, costly, dangerous, and far less effective," Barlow said. "The result is mounting economic losses, increased injuries to livestock and a growing threat to farm viability."
Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) cancelled the registration of strychnine products in 2021, citing environmental and safety concerns. Barlow argues the decision has had serious consequences for ag producers.
He pointed to Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) data showing $10.6 million in gopher-related claims in 2024 alone, covering more than 123,000 acres.
"One rural municipality in Alberta reported its worst infestation in a decade," Barlow said, adding that other communities have also reported moderate to severe damage.
The Alberta and Saskatchewan governments, along with agricultural organizations, have also called on Ottawa to restore access to strychnine, with Highwood MLA RJ Sigurdson having issued a similar statement in June.
"At a time when self-reliance and food security are more important than ever, Conservatives are calling on the Liberal government to approve the emergency use of strychnine for the provinces that request it," Barlow said.