The governments of Saskatchewan and Alberta made a joint emergency use request to Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) last fall following concerns from producers regarding the efficacy of currently registered alternatives.

The two provinces included mitigation measures with the emergency registration request such as narrower application windows, mandatory training, enhanced reporting requirements and improved stewardship—to reduce risks to non-target species such as birds and other animals. The PMRA determined these measures were not sufficient to mitigate risk to an acceptable level.

“We are extremely disappointed by PMRA’s decision and ask them to reconsider,” said David Marit, Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Minister. “We need a federal regulatory system that considers impacts felt by producers and the realities on the ground.”

The PMRA made its decision despite support from Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald for the Saskatchewan/Alberta joint application. MacDonald noted seeing the damage cause by gophers during tours of both provinces last year.