Residents in parts of Surrey rallied outside their MLA’s office on Saturday morning, hoping to bring an end to gypsy moth spraying happening in their backyards.
On Wednesday, the first round of aerial spraying aimed at stopping invasive gypsy moths began in parts of Surrey and Delta. On April 27, another round of spraying is set to begin.
Thousands of hectares are being sprayed with Foray 48B, a Health Canada approved biological insecticide. The active ingredient is a bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki–or BtK.
Jana Kelly, who lives on 68th Ave, says the product is making her sick.
“I started to feel a funny sensation in my throat. This week, I’m now affected by heaviness in the chest, sore throat, cough,” she said.
Kelly was joined by two dozen residents who showed up at Surrey-Panorama MLA Stephanie Cadieux’s constituency office this morning for the rally. Many said they were given little warning about the spraying.
READ MORE: Residents raise concerns about gypsy moth spraying in Surrey and Delta
“The government did not provide any notification other than some posts into the Surrey newspaper,” says Amy Kinvig. “We’re all working, busy families and we don’t read the newspapers or watch the news very often.”
Cloverdale resident Kendra Mohart feels the same.
“I don’t feel like I was given the chance to say no, that I didn’t want this to happen. There was a meeting that was held, but I would like to see the numbers on how many people actually attended that meeting, because most people woke up to the helicopters.”
According to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, the meeting Mohart speaks of was only attended by three people. Still, the ministry did obtain all of the necessary permits prior to spraying, and notices were posted in the local paper weeks and months in advance.
Tim Ebata, a Forest Health Officer with the ministry, says all the necessary steps for notification were followed. However, those steps are currently under review.
“We are going to re-examine our communication plans for future operations and make sure that we do a much more thorough notifications process.”
Ebata says that would include a flyer drop and more time so that residents can voice any concerns they may have.
Last week, the provincial government said two extensive studies had been done in Vancouver Victoria, and had shown no increase in illness due to spraying. They say people who wish to avoid the spray should stay inside until it dissipates, which usually takes around 30 minutes.
Since the 1990’s, aerial spraying has been used in British Columbia to control the insect’s spread, but this is the first time these Surrey and Cloverdale residents have had their neighbourhood sprayed.
Anyone with questions about the program is encouraged to phone a government line at 1-866-917-5999 or visit www.gov.bc.ca/gypsymoth.
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