Tabled, prorogued, “dead on paper” – these are terms I have been trying to understand over the last few weeks. All of these terms have been used to describe Bill M-203 – the “Cosmetic Pesticide” bill before the BC Legislature. No matter which term is used, they all mean the same thing. Bill M-203 will very shortly die as a point of procedure in the B.C. legislature.
So is the issue of pesticide legislation in BC dead or alive? The issue of pesticides in B.C. will not end with the bill “dying on paper.” The special committee that was struck to study pesticides usage in B.C., as a result of the introduction of Bill M-203, will move forward. The committee will resume meetings in the next few weeks. The committee could simply re-introduce Bill M-203. All indications are they will study the issue, hold public consultations, and look at other legislation from across Canada. Then, a new pesticide bill will be introduced. This could happen as early as this falls sitting of the legislator. Most likely it will occur during the spring 2012 session of the legislature.
