Leon Benoit, Conservative MP, Vegreville-Wainwright has introduced a private members bill to Parliament which would allow the sale of liquid strychnine again. This evil poison not only kills its intended victims, most often ground squirrels (gophers) in a horrid and painful manner but it often ends up killing their predators and other so called non-target species such as hawks, owls, coyotes, foxes, companion animals etc.
Strychnine was pulled off the market in 1993 because of the environmental havoc it wreaked. However, the Federal Government, Dept. of Health is now re-evaluating this decision because of pressure from Benoit and his farmer buddies who claim financial losses despite the fact that no studies have ever been done.
We need to send a clear and strong message to the Minister of Health, Ujjal Dosanjh, that we want this killer poison kept off the market and out of the environment. You can help by contacting the Minister expressing your opposition to reintroducing liquid strychnine. The following link takes you to the Minister's web page with contact information and an email commentary box making it easy to send a message.
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/minist/health-sante/contact/index_e.html
Some important points:
1. The Canadian government should not be waging a war on and destroying Canada's native wildlife.
2. Ground squirrels are preyed on by a great number of species and are therefore a very important part of the ecosystems. It is better to leave ground squirrels and their prey alone and they will regulate themselves.
3. You do not want this dangerous poison in the environment (it is also acutely toxic to humans).
4. If liquid strychnine is available, there is a possibility it can be used for illegal puposes (e.g. by people who hate companion cats and dogs)
5. There is simply not enough known about how strychnine affects the environment long term (eg. movement in the soil and what happens if it gets into lakes and rivers)
6. And please - cows do not step in gopher holes and break their legs - this is an urban (rural?) myth.
If you are interested in more information you can go to the government document "Re-evaluation of Strychnine". (make sure it's not just before bedtime)
http://www.pmra-arla.gc.ca/english/pdf/pacr/pacr2005-08-e.pdf
Please, for the sake of all wild creatures, take the time to send the Minister of Health at least a short message.