Gatineau hosts discussion on pesticide legacy amidst Quebec Sensitization Tour

Tashi Farmilo


A crucial dialogue on the legacy of pesticides is set to take place in Gatineau. The event, organized in partnership with "Gatineau sans pesticides", will be held on Wednesday, October 18, at 7:00 pm at La Cabane en bois rond, located at 331, boul. de la Cité-des-Jeunes. Admission is free.

This comes as part of the second edition of the Québec-wide sensitization tour organized by the "Victimes des pesticides du Québec" (VPQ) coalition. The objective of the tour is to raise awareness about the health risks posed by pesticides, shed light on the numerous victims, and foster constructive debate on collective acknowledgment and prevention of damages caused by these chemicals.

While the Québec government recognized Parkinson's disease as an occupational illness linked to pesticide exposure in 2021, only about 20 cases have been acknowledged to date by the Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST). The stringent eligibility criteria leave many victims without any support tied to their harm. VPQ emphasizes the pressing need to add diseases such as multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and cognitive disorders to the list of occupational diseases. They further advocate for the establishment of a fund to assist victims, a measure already in place in other countries, including France.

Gabriele Colasurdo, Director of Sciences and Research at Myélome Canada and VPQ administrator, expressed concern, saying, "We are deeply troubled by the fact that governments and a portion of the medical community do not understand the impact of certain pesticides on several severe and rising diseases like myeloma, despite the mounting scientific evidence."

Serge Boily, a co-founder and victim himself, appeals to government, "How can one defend against a billion-dollar pesticide industry without any support? Pesticides are a collective responsibility, and urgent action is needed to support the victims and reduce health risks."

VPQ's second sensitization tour, running from October 9 to 27, will visit locations including Québec, Gatineau, Trois-Rivières, Victoriaville, Montréal, and Coteau-du-Lac. The tour is made possible thanks to support from various partners, including SUCO, Desjardins, Lush, Régénérations Canada, and Vigilance OGM, among others. In tandem, VPQ will engage in meetings with policymakers to discuss and advocate for advancements in provincial and federal regulations related to pesticides.