Letter: Biologists Concerned with Basis of Approval for Emergency Strychnine Use

May 22, 2026

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• Biodiversity
• Grasslands
• Land Use
• Wildlife
• Wildlife Management

On the 11 May 2026, a letter with 21 signatories was sent to the: Prime Minister, Alberta Premier, Saskatchewan Premier, federal Health, Agriculture, and Environment ministers; and Alberta and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Environment ministers. Please know this letter to the federal and provincial ministers is not a petition. This letter contains specific requests to the elected officials and seeks answers from them with the expectation ministerial responses will be forthcoming.

Read the Letter and References.

This letter questions the basis for the dramatic reversal by Health Canada, from not-approving emergency use of strychnine in Alberta and Saskatchewan on 6 February 2026 citing unacceptable environmental risks, to approving its use on the 30 March 2026 with minimal justification to the public.

Three biologists, concerned about the strychnine approval, who had worked together before on prairie conservation, got together to see what could be done. The 3 are seasoned biologists, representing more than 60 years of working on environmental issues involving agriculture (i.e., ground-squirrel concerns), predator ecology and population dynamics, and species at risk recovery, in the 3 prairie provinces.

This led to discussions with others, including university academics, prairie and wildlife conservation organizations, ranchers, and the public. Hundreds of public comments in social media, and articles and opposition statements by others, posted in April 2026, were read. Publications by Health Canada, Saskatchewan Agriculture, and veterinary professionals were examined to better understand available information. US and European regulatory approaches to pesticides were consulted for comparison. Considerable effort was taken to ensure accurate information in the letter. If any inaccuracies are evident, please contact: sustainableprairiesolutions@gmail.com.

We also learned Canada ranks poorly globally, near the bottom at 164th out of 180 countries, for pesticide pollution risk (the risk of agricultural pesticide pollution to biodiversity), according to the 2024 Environmental Performance Index by Yale University.

Canada’s Pest Control Products Act:

WHEREAS it is in the national interest that the primary objective of the federal regulatory system be to prevent unacceptable risks to individuals and the environment from the use of pest control products … through a scientifically-based national registration system …designed to minimize health and environmental risks posed by pest control products and to encourage the development and implementation of innovative, sustainable pest management strategies, for example by facilitating access to pest control products that pose lower risks, and encouraging the development and use of alternative, non-toxic, ecological pest control approaches, strategies and products.

The cover letter to the ministers shows the name (and postal code) of each signatory who, in principle, endorses the attached letter. The ministers will receive an updated list of signatories on 25 May 2026, and every month or so thereafter. Additional signatories are welcome.