Lynn Hale,
I suppose, having been in the middle of the debate of Canada/US border
closure in 1987 onward, first as Alberta's Provincial Apiculturist and
later as BC's Provincial Apiculturist, I may be in a good position to
respond to your question.
Some historical background is warranted. During the 1970's, Canadian
apicultural specialists started to express concern about the potential
introduction of "exotic" mites into Canada. It was recognised that
annual purchases of 100,000's packages and queens from a comparitively
small geographical area in California, heightened the industry's
vulnerability to the introduction and distribution of pests throughout
Canada's most important beekeeping areas. Provincial apiculturists
started to encourage beekeepers to overwinter their colonies. Research
projects on wintering techniques and breeding programs to develop winter
hardy bees were carried out; courses on queen rearing were offered;
assistance programs (financial and technical) for wintering were made
available in some provinces.
Also, the threat of these exotic mites caused Canadian apiculturists, in
consultations with Canadian Honey Council (Canada's national beekeeping
organisation) and the federal government to review provisions under the
Animal Disease and Protection Act. (Since then replaced by the Animal
Health Act). After lengthy discussions, it was decided in the early
1980's, to name Varroa jacobsoni under the Act as a reportable pest,
while the tracheal mite (HBTM) was left out. This decision was made by
the industry because Varroa was still seen as some pest in the distant
future, while HBTM had just been confirmed in the US. The industry felt
it could not afford to jeopardize its access to US packages and queens
at that time. Yet, provincial beekeepers associations and governments
whose legislation included HBTM as reportable pests, demanded steps be
undertaken to prevent HBTM introduction into Canada through a tracheal
mite certification program. This program failed for many reasons.
Without going into detail about the causes of failure, it must be pointed
out that the program included the provision of closing the border to bee
shipments in the event of HBTM infestations in California's bee breeding
area. Canadian beekeepers relying on annual bee importations were fully
aware of the potential of border closure. Before gassing the bees off in
the fall, beekeepers would call and ask if the border would be closed
next spring. I recall very clearly in (early) September 1987, telling
producers that under conditions at that time, that there was no reason to
believe that the border would be closed.
Of course, the situation changed overnight when in late September (21?)
of that same year Varroa was discovered in the US. (It was a big
surprise to most, because had we not all expected to see the Africanized
bees arrive first?). Since Varroa was under federal legislation, the
Government in Ottawa was suddenly confronted of having to formulate a
response strategy that would address beekeeping interests throughout
Canada. All provincial beekeepers organisations except Alberta's were in
support of border closure. All provincial governments were also in
support of closure, while the Government of Alberta abstained. (Please
note that the border issue caused terrible polarisation within the
Alberta beekeeping fraternity at that time and each group submitted
convincing arguments to the Provincial Government). Extensive
consultations between industry groups and governments took place
throughout the winter of 1987 and 1988.
In 1987/88, no chemical control product was registered in Canada (and the
US) to control Varroa. In addition to the stated positions of
associations and provinces to close the border, the federal government
had little choice but opted for a commonly used method in animal disease
control, namely by physically isolating the Canadian bee population.
Neither the federal government nor any other proponent to border closure
ever argued that this strategy would keep Varroa out of Canada forever.
Instead, it was hoped that with beekeeper compliance, Varroa could be
kept out of Canada for a number of years during which time control
products may become available.
In response to the challenges faced by many beekeepers to convert their
operations to wintering in 1988 onward, the Province of Alberta
introduced financial assistance programs to its producers, up to C$10.-
per colony. This was followed by a multi-year sugar subsidy program
where beekeepers could purchase sugar for winter feed at subsidized
prices. At the same free engineering asistance was offered for the
design and construction of indoor wintering facilities. Colleges,
universities and federal research facilities continued to offer
information on improved wintering techniques.
As of today, the vast majority of beekeepers and beekeeping operations in
Canada have remained free of Varroa. Although the pest will continue to
spread in the years to come, Varroa's principal distribution is still
concentrated in border areas. After six years of border closure, the
policy must be recognised as having been successful.
Regardless, the implementation of the border closure policy carried a
high cost, especially for those producers who were fully dependent on
annual package and queen importations. In 1988 and 1989, scores of those
'package operators' went out of business. It has often been claimed that
the border closure was the cause of their demise. I do not believe that
this is entirely true. In many cases, producers were already in serious
difficulty because of persistent low honey prices (remember those
horrific years when honey went for C$0.37 - 0.39 a pound?) and hence,
they did not have the resources needed to convert their operations. For
many, border closure may have been the final 'nail in the coffin'. On
the positive side, many beekeepers did convert their operations
successfully and became highly self-sufficient while remaining free of
Varroa.
It should be remembered that the closure of the Canada/US border was
enacted because of Varroa, not HBTM. The justification of keeping the
policy in place is lessened every year with the further spread of Varroa
in Canada's beekeeping areas. The current ban will remain in effect
until December 31, 1995 and by that time, the Canadian beekeeping
industry may democratically decide continuation of the policy is no
longer warranted.
Paul van Westendorp [log in to unmask]
Provincial Apiculturist ph. (604) 576-5639
BC Ministry of Agriculture, fx. (604) 576-5652
Fisheries & Food
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