Update: The bill to ban live horse export for slaughter from Canada has passed the House of Commons Agriculture Committee! Bill C-355 will now go for a final vote in the House of Commons before moving to the Senate. The bill is another step closer to hopefully becoming law. Thank you for speaking up for horses – this progress would not be possible without you.
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Original story:
On September 19, Tim Louis, M.P., introduced Private Member’s Bill C-355 to the House of Commons to prohibit the export by air of horses from Canada for slaughter. Now, it is time to take the final steps to ban live horse export.
More than 40,000 horses have been shipped out of Canada since 2013. These horses are purpose-bred for export, not sourced from auctions, as the importing countries have strict health standards.
The typical time without feed, water, and rest for these horses is 20 to 22 hours, but there have been cases recorded that exceed this. It is legal for horses to be transported without feed, water, or rest for up to 28 hours. The BC SPCA strongly advocates that no animal should be transported without feed, water, or rest for more than eight hours.
Progress has been made
“The introduction of this bill shows that the collective efforts of passionate individuals and animal welfare advocacy groups are making a difference,” says Melissa Speirs, manager of farm animal welfare at the BC SPCA. In 2021, the Prime Minister directed the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to ban the export of live horses for slaughter. It is time that the government finally follows through on this promise.
“The horses have waited too long,” said Speirs.
Next steps
Thousands of Canadians have already signed one (or several) petitions on this issue and written a letter (or two) to their representatives.
“That hard work has gotten this close to the finish line. Today, please send a quick email to your Member of Parliament and the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, asking for them to support Bill C-355 and ban the export of live horses for slaughter,” says Speirs.
The Canadian Horse Defence Coalition has been at the forefront of this issue, and the BC SPCA has supported and will continue to support their work towards ending the live export of horses for slaughter.
