Hard-working farm families are the backbone of our province. They feed our families and keep our economy strong. But right now, they face a real crisis from exploding gopher populations that are destroying crops and pastures across Saskatchewan.

Richardson’s ground squirrels, or gophers as we call them, have been causing massive damage ever since the federal government banned the agricultural use of strychnine in 2020. Farmers across Regina-Qu’Appelle have told me stories of having to reseed fields multiple times, only to lose them again to these pests.

In 2024 alone, Saskatchewan farmers lost over 123,000 acres in damaged crops, leading to more than $10 million in lost revenue. Municipalities across the province report severe infestations, with livestock getting injured from stepping in burrows and irrigation lines breaking.

This is not just a nuisance. It threatens the livelihoods of families who have farmed here for generations as well as food security. Producers face economic losses that could top hundreds of millions while the gopher numbers keep growing.

The Liberals under Mark Carney promised to consider food costs and security when making regulatory decisions, but when Alberta and Saskatchewan asked for emergency use of strychnine last October, Mark Carney’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) rejected it, ignoring science-based proposals to mitigate any harmful side effects of using strychnine.

Even the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) has called for action, but Carney simply ignores them as well, refusing to overrule his bureaucrats and grant the approval.

Strychnine is a tool that has been used safely for decades, with strict controls to protect wildlife. The alternatives proposed by Mark Carney’s government are costly, time-consuming, and almost always ineffective, especially on large farms, forcing farmers into tough spots during a time of high costs and drought recovery.

This rejection shows Mark Carney’s minority government is out of touch with prairie realities, prioritizing ideology over practical needs. They talk big about food security but fail to act, leaving farmers to pay the price. This shortsightedness risks the security of Canada’s entire food supply chain.

Conservatives have pushed for science-based solutions that balance environmental concerns with the needs of farmers.

We have demanded a three-year exemption for strychnine while better options are developed.

We would reform the PMRA to ensure that economic impacts are considered when making regulatory decisions, so tools like strychnine are available when needed, and with all necessary safety safeguards in place.

This is yet another demonstration that Only Conservatives are on Saskatchewan’s Side.

You can have YOUR say by signing the petition at
AndrewMP.ca/stop-the-gopher-crisis