MEDICINE HAT — A bill to ban the transport by air of live horses for slaughter is making its way through Parliament and is now under review by the agriculture committee.
Private member’s Bill C-355 passed second reading in the House earlier this year after introduction by Liberal MP Tim Louis.
“I bring forth this bill convinced this practice must come to an end,” said Louis during the opening of committee debate Feb. 13.
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As he’s done in earlier debates, Louis focused on the special relationship farmers have with horses, as well as their iconic role with the RCMP and connection to Mennonite communities in his Kitchener, Ont. riding.
“It’s unacceptable that these intelligent and sensitive companion animals endure such suffering, especially considering their significant roles in our history and our society.”
Louis said the bill would only target live horses and no other livestock. Any change would be phased in over 18 months to allow horses currently being raised for food to work through the system.
House debate has largely fallen along party lines, with support from Liberal and NDP members and opposition from Conservatives and Bloc Québécois MPs.
The committee debate was similar, with Conservative MP John Barlow asking Louis what animal welfare regulations aren’t being followed. The Liberal MP was not able to cite any.
“That’s because they are not breaking any of the current laws. In fact, they are exceeding them quite handily,” said Barlow, noting the stall size in Canada for horses is above international standards.
Barlow grilled Louis on numerous facets of the bill from the extremely low number of fatalities or injuries during transport to who was consulted before the bill’s introduction. He emphasized the Metis Nation of Alberta’s position against the bill, which they say will stymie their traditions.
Louis said the bill isn’t about prohibiting consumption of horse meat. It is about the transport by air of horses for the specific use of their meat being eaten raw.
“The sale, export for slaughter is not about the end of life of a horse. This is about raising horses – specifically fattening them up to be used raw like sushi overseas,” said Louis.
“Again, this is not about horse meat consumption, it’s not about the sale of horse meat or even raising and breeding horses for consumption. This is simply about ending the cruel practice of exporting live horses to be eaten raw as a delicacy.”
BQ MP Yves Perron reiterated his opposition to the bill at committee, questioning the reasoning of the legislation and asking why the focus isn’t on improved transport regulations if animal welfare is the issue. He also wondered about the difference between horses transported for sporting events and those shipped for the meat trade.
Louis said there is more supervision of sporting horses, but Perron drilled down on the point, suggesting legislation should be proposed that would match the two.
According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, shipment of live horses is primarily to Japan. Calgary and Edmonton airports are the primary routes for shipment.
The CFIA states those flights take 10 to 12 hours and total shipping times must be completed within the 28-hour regulation.
Since 2013, the agency said there have been five horse deaths related to air shipments and 47,000 horses exported.
Contact alex.mccuaig@producer.com
