Information

November 24, 1998

Health Minister announces new Pest Management Advisory Council

Ottawa - Health Minister Allan Rock yesterday announced the membership of the new Pest Management Advisory Council. The 24-member Council will provide advice to the Minister on pest management issues. The Council's membership represents a balance of stakeholders that includes pesticide manufacturers and users, environmental, health and consumer groups and academics.

The Council held its first meeting yesterday in Ottawa.

"I am very pleased to announce that Dr. Richard Van Loon, President and Vice-Chancellor of Carleton University, has agreed to chair the Advisory Council," Minister Rock said. "His extensive experience in the public and private sectors and his grasp of public policy issues will ensure that the views of all stakeholders are considered by the Council."

Dr. Van Loon holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Carleton University and a Masters and Doctorate in Political Science from Queen's University. His academic career includes positions at Queen's, Carleton, and at Ottawa University, where he was Professor and Coordinator of Public Policy and Management Programs, and later Professor and Director of Health Administration Programs. Dr. Van Loon's distinguished career in the Public Service includes service with National Health and Welfare, Treasury Board, Ministry of State for Social Development, and the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, where he rose to the rank of Associate Deputy Minister. He served as Associate Deputy Minister in Health Canada from 1994 until 1996, when he assumed his present duties at Carleton University.

The new Pest Management Advisory Council replaces the Interim Pest Management Advisory Council that had operated since 1992. The Interim Council was formed to provide broad policy advice on the implementation of the 1990 multi-stakeholder Pesticide Registration Review. The Interim Pest Management Advisory Council provided valuable input into proposals to amend Canada's legislation on pest control products.

Pest Management Advisory Council members, who will serve on a voluntary basis, will have the responsibility to:

• make recommendations on broad strategic directions, management, and overall priorities for the Pest Management Regulatory Agency of Health Canada;
• provide a challenge function to ensure that Pest Management Regulatory Agency programs are consistent with the needs of Canadians within the overall national and global environmental, social and economic context;
• act as a forum for advice and for the exchange of views of all key stakeholders on issues affecting the management of pest control products in Canada.

The creation of the Council reaffirms Mr. Rock's commitment to work with industry and the agricultural community to further improve Canada's pest management regulatory regime and broadens that commitment to include other key sectors, such as forestry, consumers, health and environmental groups and academics.

"A key concern for the Advisory Council will be providing advice to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency on the actions to be taken to meet the recommendations of the recently-released Pest Management Regulatory Agency Benchmarking Study. It will be important to consider the perspectives of all stakeholders in determining a path forward," Mr. Rock said.

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Attachment: Pest Management Advisory Council

Media Enquiries
Antony Simpson
Pest Management Regulatory Agency
(613) 736-3794

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