Minister Opens Environment Week - With Launch of the Backyard Bug Brigade Program

Kevin Aylward, Minister of Environment and Labour, today proclaimed the week of June 2 to 8 as Environment Week in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. To kick off the week, the minister introduced the "Backyard Bug Brigade," a new public education program about pest control and pesticide safety.

Environment Week is a national event which focuses on environmental issues and encourages public participation in environmentally positive activities. The minister said environmental issues are clearly high on the public's agenda. "Judging from the number and quality of the entrants in the Environmental Awards Programme, there is not only a favorable increase in participation, there is a tremendous amount of work being done by people to clean up the land, water and air of our communities," he said. The Environmental Awards Programme, now in its seventh year, is one of the week's most well�known events. This year, some 60 groups, individuals, businesses and schools from across Newfoundland and Labrador were nominated for the 1996 awards, which are a joint venture between the Women's Institutes and the Department of Environment and Labour. Winners will be announced, and awards will be presented at a special ceremony on Tuesday, June 4, 1996.

The minister also said that Environment Week is the perfect opportunity for his department to launch the new Backyard Bug Brigade Program. The "Backyard Bug Brigade" is a people-friendly magazine and accompanying pamphlet, that educates the public on environmentally sound methods of pest control and pesticide safety. The program is a joint effort between the four Atlantic provinces and the federal government, that was initiated and managed by the Newfoundland Department of Environment and Labour. Backyard Bug Brigade offers an alternative to the traditional use of chemicals in pest control which have resulted in numbers of poisonings each year. Besides endangering human life, the minister said, "chemical pest management is harmful to the environment. We believe the timely presentation of this program is a very positive contribution to the well being of our people and our province."

BACKGROUNDER ENVIRONMENT WEEK :

Originated by Environment Canada several years ago, Environment Week has been observed in Newfoundland and Labrador since its inception. Environment Week is devoted to environmental issues and activities which focus on the preservation, protection and restoration of our environment.

Activities and events are planned by environmental groups, concerned citizens groups, schools, municipalities and individuals across the province.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS PROGRAM :

The program gives recognition to people who have contributed in a meaningful way to the preservation, protection and restoration of our environment.

The aim is to help educate, inform, and encourage citizens to play an active part in the present and future environmental health of our province. There were over 60 nominations in 1996.

There are six categories: Individual, Citizen's Group or Organization, Education, Youth, Business, and Municipal.

The awards will be presented by Environment Minister Kevin Aylward on Tuesday, June 4, 1996. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Freshwater Resource Centre (Fluvarium) in St. John's.

THE "BACKYARD BUG BRIGADE" AN INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT AND PESTICIDE SAFETY PROGRAM:

Every year, Atlantic Canadians are accidentally poisoned through the improper use of pesticides. The Backyard Bug Brigade Program was developed to address this problem.

The program was initiated, developed and managed by the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Environment and Labour, but in cooperation with the departments of Environment of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island and the federal departments of Agriculture and Health.

The program includes a magazine sized pest control booklet and a pesticide safety brochure.

The booklet describes 15 common and significant insect, rodent and weed problems in Atlantic Canada and suggests environmentally safe control measures, both traditional chemical and alternative measures.

The brochure describes safety measures to follow when handling domestic pesticides.

The booklet and brochures are currently available at regional government service centres or by contacting the Department of Environment and Labour. Over the next few weeks, they will also be available at regional agricultural offices, Tourist Information Sites and a variety of private sector retail outlets throughout the province

BEACH CLEAN-UP

An annual one-day event where staff of the provincial Department of Environment and Labour and Environment Canada join forces to clean-up a local area beach.

On Friday, June 7, 1996, the volunteer staff are cleaning up the beach areas surrounding the Bell Island ferry terminals at Portugal Cove and Bell Island.

Contact: Teddy Ryan, Director of Public Relations, (709) 729-2575