Canadian municipalities are taking action to prevent the sale of invasive plants in local garden centers, while advocates are urging the Canadian government to establish a national framework for regulating the horticultural industry. Invasive plants pose a threat to biodiversity nationwide, prompting municipalities to address gaps in the current regulatory system that varies by region. Canada has committed to reducing the introduction and establishment of known invasive species by at least 50 percent by 2030.
The Canadian Coalition for Invasive Plant Regulation (CCIPR) is advocating for the creation of a regulatory body overseeing the horticultural sector and the development of a national database identifying invasive plants and associated risks in different areas. Cathy Kavassalis, co-founder of CCIPR, emphasized the importance of informing the public about potential harm posed by invasive plants, akin to regulations on other products.
While the Canadian Food Inspection Agency regulates some invasive plants, individual provinces and territories have their own invasive species control legislation. Efforts by municipalities such as Nanaimo and Surrey to restrict the sale of invasive plants highlight the growing concern. Nanaimo recently pursued a bylaw amendment to limit the sale of plants listed by the Invasive Species Council of B.C., while Surrey moved to ban sales by various businesses including nurseries and retail chains.
In London, the environmental committee recommended that retailers selling invasive plants provide customers with information at the point of sale. However, Kavassalis expressed the need for a comprehensive national approach instead of fragmented municipal solutions to effectively tackle the issue of invasive plants.
Kirsty MacDonald, Nanaimo’s parks manager, noted the impact of invasive plants on the local landscape and potential risks to human health. She highlighted the importance of addressing the issue through multiple strategies, including banning the sale of new introductions of invasive plants.
Advocates are calling for Ottawa to take decisive action to address the horticultural trade, citing studies that identify ornamental non-native plants as a primary pathway for introducing invasive species. Establishing a national database could provide stakeholders with crucial information on regional risks, while labeling or removing invasive plants from shelves is also recommended.
Horticulture expert Jim Hole supported efforts to prevent the spread of invasive plants, emphasizing that most garden centers would comply with regulations. He highlighted the role of research, regulation, and public education in supporting greenhouse owners and farmers in controlling unwanted plants.
Native plant advocate Lorraine Johnson emphasized the influence of nurseries in shaping consumer choices and the industry’s impact on biodiversity loss. She stressed the importance of native plant gardens for supporting pollinators and ecosystems, urging the public to consider the ecological implications of their gardening choices.
