The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) expressed disappointment in the decision made by Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) to deny emergency use of strychnine for Saskatchewan and Alberta.
President Bill Huber thought the outcome would have been different based on Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald telling the Commons Agriculture Committee he would be supportive of producers or provinces applying for its use on an emergency basis.
However, the decision ultimately rested on the PMRA.
"We thought we were going to win here, but it didn't turn out that way." Huber said.
SARM had been advocating for strychnine's reinstatement since it was banned in 2023.
The decision comes after Saskatchewan and Alberta requested its reinstatement last October after hearing concerns from producers and farm groups over the growing population of Richardson Ground Squirrels and claims of inadequate product alternatives. Huber says SARM heard the same concerns.
"In the last few years, in drought conditions, (Richardson Ground Squirrels) become a little more heavily populated, and they are hard to control. Some of the other products that are on the market do work somewhat, but they're not as effective as the old 2% liquid strychnine. It was almost a guaranteed win when you used it." said Huber.
Officials from Saskatchewan and Alberta met with PMRA officials to address the agency's technical and science-based questions related to strychnine. Saskatchewan thought their request was robust and included adequate mitigation measures, such as narrower application windows, mandatory training, enhanced reporting requirements and improved stewardship.
While the request was denied, Huber says they're not giving up.
"We're going to continue to push the PMRA," he said. "And hopefully we can work collaboratively with the provincial ministry (of agriculture) and Alberta, and hopefully take another try at it and see if we can convince them in a different way; but I'm not ready to give up yet unless others are."
Provincial Agriculture Minister David Marit called on the PMRA to reconsider its decision.
