NDP calling for better animal rights protections and to end inhumane animal transportation practices

OTTAWA – On Monday, NDP Agriculture and Food Critic Alistair MacGregor will table a petition in the House of Commons that calls on the government to end the transportation of live horses for slaughter. The petition, initiated by Jann Arden, was signed by almost 40,000 Canadians.

“The custom of loading living horses onto cargo planes, and shipping them overseas, only for them to be slaughtered at a later date is an inhumane, but common, practice in Canada. It’s time we end it,” said MacGregor. “Horses are extremely sensitive animals, who are aware of their surroundings, and shipping them live is often a prolonged and painful ending to their lives.”

Each year almost 2,000 horses are transported live, and this number is on the rise. Ending the export of live horses for slaughter was a part the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food’s mandate letter in 2021 – but still no steps have been taken to end this practice.

“Big corporations and industry shouldn’t be deciding what is humane or acceptable treatment for animals,” added MacGregor. “I’m happy to be working on this important change — along with thousands of Canadians, and Animal Justice to get rid of inhumane practices.”