Auditor general identifies 'significant deficiencies' in Alberta's pesticide oversight and enforcement

Alberta's auditor general has found that legislation and oversight of pesticide use by Alberta's environment ministry are "not sufficient" to minimize the risk of improper use.

Alberta's auditor general has found that legislation and oversight of pesticide use by Alberta's environment ministry are "not sufficient" to minimize the risk of improper use.

Auditor General Doug Wylie found publicly available information produced by the province on registered pesticide products and their use was "not current and accurate," in addition to instances where illegal products may have been sold in 2018.

"We conclude that the department did not have adequate processes to minimize the risk of inappropriate pesticide use in Alberta," the report said.

Other deficiencies included not having proactive measures to monitor compliance with regulatory requirements and that processes to ensure pesticides are applied by certified individuals are "not sufficient."

The ministry told the auditor general it relies on the public to report instances of non-compliance. According to the audit, 250 registered businesses employing pesticide applicators had personnel who were no longer certified in January last year.

Instances of pesticides being applied in unsafe weather conditions or where people had used too much product near water were found by the auditor general, but the ministry of environment and parks "did not identify these issues."

According to the auditor general, the ministry of environment and parks stopped proactive pesticide inspections in 2017 and compliance activities since then were "insufficient" to detect rulebreaking activity.