WHEREAS there is a proposal to revise The Noxious Weeds Act, 1984; and 

WHEREAS the five noxious weeds for which extra enforcement powers were authorized would be relegated to the noxious category; and 

WHEREAS many of the factors which include growth habits, proliferation and extreme measures required for control that contributed to their special status have not changed; 

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM strongly recommend that leafy spurge, field bindweed, Russian knapweed, toad flax and hoary cress be elevated to the prohibited category and that the weed “baby’s breath” be included in this category, or that individual municipalities have a process whereby they can designate all or any of these weeds to the prohibited category.

Response from Honourable Bob Bjornerud, Minister of Agriculture:

The Ministry of Agriculture is aware that a major revision of The Noxious Weeds Act as well as The Noxious Weeds Designation Regulations and The Noxious Weeds Regulations is necessary. Consultations are being conducted to seek the input from a wide range of industry stakeholders regarding the proposed changes and how these changes are expected to address past concerns.  

I appreciate all stakeholder comments regarding proposed changes to The Noxious Weeds Act. These resolutions will be taken into consideration when revising the Act.