WHEREAS the continuing spread of invasive plant species across BC and Canada is significantly impacting much of our agricultural and environmental resources; AND WHEREAS local governments are allocating resources to the control and eradication of invasive plant species at a substantial financial cost; however, invasive plants and seeds continue to be sold in nurseries, catalogues and via the Internet: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM lobby the provincial and federal governments to develop a strategy to prohibit the sale of invasive plant species and their seeds.
Ministry of Forests, Lands Natural Resource Operations The Inter-Ministry Invasive Species Working Group is reviewing legislation and policy and has identified areas such as the sale of invasive plant species and their seeds that require regulatory consideration. The ministry is committed to examining and proposing opportunities for improving the Weed Control Act and Regulation and has begun work on this initiative. The provincial government continues to work collaboratively with the Invasive Plant Council of BC to raise awareness of the impacts and threat posed by the sale of invasive plants and their seeds through horticulture outlets. The result of this work has been increased awareness within the industry, voluntary removal of some non-regulated invasive species, and development and dissemination of the successful Grow Me Instead program.
Minister of Agriculture Agri-Food Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board Please be assured that the Government of Canada recognizes the significance of all pathways for the introduction and spread of invasive plants into Canada. Your local governments concern with the spread of invasive plants - provincially and nationally - is appreciated. Responding to invasive plants is a shared responsibility; the active involvement of all levels of government, non-governmental organizations and stakeholders in Canada is essential. In 2004, the Government developed An Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Canada, which stresses advocacy for enhancing coordination and co-operation between different levels of government and stakeholders in order to effectively respond to and manage invasive alien species in Canada. Under the Strategy, and as part of its mandate to protect the Canadian plant resource base, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency CFIA is committed to preventing or limiting the entry and spread of invasive plants and plant pests into Canada. To this end, the CFIA has developed and is implementing an invasive plants program - which involves working with federalprovincial partners and Canadian stakeholders - to limit the impacts of invasive plants in Canada. This includes addressing the sale of invasive plants and seeds. In 2010, the CFIA conducted a broad stakeholder consultation to validate its Invasive Plants Policy, under the Invasive Plants Program. The Policy will guide how invasive plants will be regulated in Canada, as well as the several plant species under consideration for regulation under the authority of the Plant Protection Act and the Seeds Act. A draft version of the Policy can be viewed at: http:www.inspection.gc.caenglishplaveginvenvconsultiaspole.shtml Several plant species that potentially present a serious risk to Canadas agriculture, forestry and environmental sectors are undergoing the final stages of a risk analysis to determine if they will be regulated as invasive plants in Canada by the CFIA under the Plant Protection Act. Regulatory decisions on these species are expected shortly, and regulation would effectively prevent their import into, and sale and cultivation in, Canada. The CFIA continues to regulate the introduction and spread of weedy species, via the seed pathway, by listing harmful species on the Weed Seeds Order WSO of the Seeds Act. The WSO can be found at the following website: http:laws-lois.justice.gc.caengregulationsSOR2D20052D220page-1.htmlh-1 As the Invasive Plants Program evolves, additional invasive plant species will be assessed and regulated where appropriate. The CFIA welcomes your input regarding any species that you would like to recommend for review under the process described in the draft Invasive Plants Policy. For more information on the Invasive Plants Program, please contact the CFIA at the following email address: invasive.plantsinspection.gc.ca . If you wish to provide comments on the placement of species on the WSO, you are encouraged to contact the CFIAs Seed Section by email at seedsemenceinspection.gc.ca .