Canada as seen through the Eyes of New Brunswick Editorial Cartoonists:
The Insight and Humour of Josh Beutel and Bill Hogan
Preface |
Introduction |
Editorial Cartoon Database |
Classroom Activities
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Josh Beutel, Telegraph Journal, 1981-4-1
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Reference number: MC2806-589
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Scope and Content
The fallacy of being able to control the application of pesticides with acute accuracy is underlined by showing the Minister of Natural Resources Bud Bird strapped upside-down to an airplane, holding a hand sprayer.
Title
Buffer Zone Spray
Caption
One mile buffer zone reduced for spray program. Pinpoint application guaranteed by special procedures.
Issues
Spruce budworm
The Spruce Budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) is a destructive insect that lives in Eastern Canada and the United States. There have been periodic spruce budworm outbreaks in these areas for centuries. Spruce budworm larvae feed on the needles and cones of balsam fir and spruce causing defoliation resulting in growth loss and tree death. A particularly devastating outbreak occurred in the Atlantic Provinces and Quebec in the mid 1970s lasting into the 1980s, requiring extensive replanting. The chosen method to mediate the outbreak in New Brunswick at that time was a chemical insecticide (fenitrothion) spraying program which was phased out by a biological insecticide (Bt or Bacillus thurengiensis) beginning in 1979. It has been argued that the damaging effects of the use of chemical pesticides outweighed its merits. By 1998 application of fenitothion was banned altogether.
Persons
Bud Bird
- Born March 22, 1932
- Former mayor of Fredericton, New Brunswick, 1969-74. Involved in amalgamation of city's north and south sides
- NB Minister of Natural Resources
- Enforced spraying of pesticides in response to spruce budworm infestation
- Introduced first salmon tagging program in 1980
- Conservative MP. Minister of Natural Resources under Brian Mulroney, 1988 to 1993
- Appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2001.