Canada’s horse export trade and the election

Opinion

Do you remember back in 2021, ahead of the last federal election, when the Liberal Party promised to end Canada’s cruel export of horses for slaughter? Animal lovers sure do. For many of us it felt like a rare political win — a clear, compassionate promise that aligned with public values.

After all, Canadians love horses. Nearly 80 per cent of us support a ban on the practice of flying these animals in cramped crates to certain death halfway around the world. And yet, here we are on the heels of another federal election, more than three and a half years later, with that promise yet to be fulfilled.

As an issue of great public interest, this promise and these animals must not be forgotten this election.

Liberal MP Tim Louis introduced Bill C-355 in 2023, but the bill failed to pass during this Parliamentary session — just like three NDP private members’ bills to ban this cruel practice before it. And during this federal election period, no party leader has mentioned the issue, even as thousands of horses continue to be exported to Japan for slaughter, including from our own Richardson International Airport. In fact, the number of horses being exported is on the rise.

There have been some Manitoba politicians who have ensured that the issue of live horse export remains in the public eye. This includes Conservative Senate Leader Donald Plett, who represents Manitoba. After Bill C-355 passed the House of Commons last May, and was sent to the Red Chamber, Plett went to bat for the export industry, fighting for the cruelty to continue. He refused to allow the bill to be voted on and sent to committee study until he gave his critic’s speech. By continually claiming he needed more time to give that speech, he successfully ran out the clock, leaving the bill to gather dust for eight months until Parliament was prorogued in January.

In a recent Hill Times op-ed, Plett also attempted to defend this indefensible practice by blaming “misinformation and emotional manipulation” for turning public opinion. But it’s the senator who’s trafficking in misinformation. He would have Canadians believe that horses exported for slaughter fly in comfort — spacious crates, attentive care — nothing to worry about. But the truth couldn’t be further from his claims.

Horses are crammed into wooden crates so tightly they can barely move around or balance during turbulence. They are forced to endure this position for an average of more than 29 hours — a number that exceeds the already gruelling 28-hour legal limit for transporting horses without food, water, and rest.

While Plett insists “qualified attendants” are present on these flights, one person overseeing 100 horses is hardly capable of ensuring animal welfare. In fact, in January 2024, four horses collapsed mid-flight, with one dead upon landing and two more dying soon after. The attendant didn’t notice a thing. And though CFIA records show few deaths during these torturous flights, that’s not proof of safety — it’s proof of silence. While exporters simply don’t report horse deaths, Japanese authorities recorded at least 22 deaths and over 60 serious injuries during or shortly after transport between June 2023 and June 2024 alone.

Thankfully, the horses do have an ally in at least one Manitoban politician.

Liberal MP Ben Carr tells us that he is keeping the issue of live horse export a priority because it matters to voters, adding that he intends to continue advocating for the issue both locally and nationally. “I do not believe that as a country, we should be supportive of a practice like this,” he says. “There is enough evidence to suggest that this is a practice that ought to end.”

For all those Manitobans who agree with Carr, now is a key time to speak up for horses when candidates come knocking at your door, and to reach out to party leaders to demand that this life-saving promise be fulfilled. With media outlets, politicians and Canadians focused on the political circus to the south, there is a serious risk that the urgent need to ban horse export for slaughter will fall off of our collective radar. We can’t let that happen.

Showing kindness to animals who lack a voice in our political system does not detract from our ability to protect our economy and our sovereignty — in fact it compliments those efforts, shining a light on the values that unite us and make us proud to be Canadian. Live horse export for slaughter is a national disgrace. This federal election, it’s time for leaders to finally commit to ending it for good.

We look forward to seeing this issue discussed at the National Animal Protection Election Debate, taking place online on April 23.

Jessica Scott-Reid is a Winnipeg-based freelance journalist and independent animal advocate. Kaitlyn Mitchell is a Winnipeg-based lawyer and director of legal advocacy with Animal Justice.