YOU CAN HELP PASS BILL C-355
First published Dec. 12, 2024. Updated Dec. 21, 2024.
Okay, we know, we know, you’ve signed and shared petitions including multiple Member of Parliament sponsored e-petitions – THANK YOU.
[Those e-petions went a long way to getting Bill C-355 — a bill to ban the live export of horses from Canada to any other country by air for the purpose of slaughter or to fatten for slaughter — read in Parliament.]
You’ve called and written Members of Parliament and maybe even met with Members of Parliament – again and again. THANK YOU.
[Your responses helped get Bill C-355 through not only Parliament but also the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food. WELL DONE.]
And now that Bill C-355 is in the hands of Canadian Senators you may have already contacted at least one Senator or multiple Senators. Again, THANK YOU.
You may have used form letters – like the one you’ll find HERE.
If not? Please do.
Again from the bottom of our hearts – THANK YOU.
WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP…
NOTE: Government servers will block emails addressed to more than one person. We know it’s a pain but if you could send 11 individual emails your voice will be heard.
COPY + PASTE x 11 EMAILS
Subject: Urgent Support Needed for Bill C-355
Dear [Senator’s Name],
I am writing to respectfully urge you to support the swift passage of Bill C-355: the Prohibition of the Export of Horses by Air for Slaughter Act, currently under debate in the Senate. This critical piece of legislation addresses a profoundly inhumane practice that has no place in Canada’s modern values of compassion and animal welfare.
Every year, thousands of Canadian horses are subjected to harrowing journeys when they are tightly packed into wooden crates and flown to countries like Japan, where they are slaughtered for consumption as a raw delicacy. These flights, which can legally last up to 28 hours, often violate legal time limits for transport without food, water, or rest.
Horses endure immense physical and emotional stress, with inadequate space increasing the likelihood of injuries, collapses, and even deaths during transit.
Investigations by Animal Justice and Japan’s Life Investigation Agency have revealed the shocking realities of this practice. Evidence shows that flights frequently exceed legal time limits, and new records from the Government of Japan expose a higher rate of horse fatalities, injuries, and illnesses than Canadian reports acknowledge. This cruelty has drawn widespread condemnation from Canadians across all political affiliations.
Multiple e-petitions including one with over 77,000 signatures have been tabled in the House of Commons, reflecting the strong public demand for an end to this practice. Bill C-355 represents a narrowly focused and practical measure, targeting only the export of live horses for slaughter by air.
It does not impact the horse racing industry or the shipment of horses for other sporting purposes, or shows or personal use, all of which adhere to much higher standards of care when shipping. Furthermore, as a stand-alone bill, it cannot be amended in ways that would compromise its intent, eliminating concerns about potential overreach into other sectors.
Canada’s government pledged to ban the export of live horses for slaughter in 2021, and MP Tim Louis introduced Bill C-355 in 2023 to fulfill this promise. While the bill has successfully passed the House of Commons, it faces delays in the Senate. These delays risk perpetuating unnecessary suffering for countless horses and undermining Canada’s commitment to humane treatment of animals.
Supporting Bill C-355 affirms Canada’s dedication to compassion, empathy, and justice. It sends a clear message that we prioritize the welfare of our animals and align our policies with the values of the Canadian people. I implore you to vote in favour of this bill and advocate for its expeditious passage through the Senate.
Thank you for considering this urgent matter. I look forward to your response and to seeing Canada take a meaningful step toward a more humane future.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Email Address]
[Your Phone Number]
SENATOR ROBERT BLACK
(Chair)
Province: Ontario
Affiliation: Canadian Senators Group
Telephone: 613-943-3416
Email: robert.black@sen.parl.gc.ca
Sadly, Senator Black is strongly opposed to Bill C-355.
SENATOR PAULA SIMONS
(Deputy Chair)
Province: Alberta
Affiliation: Independent Senators Group
Telephone: 613-943-8242
Email: Paula.Simons@sen.parl.gc.ca
SENATOR SHARON BUREY
Province: Ontario
Affiliation: Canadian Senators Group
Telephone: 613-996-8692
Email: Sharon.Burey@sen.parl.gc.ca
SENATOR MARNIE MCBEAN
Province: Ontario
Affiliation: Independent Senators Group
Telephone: 613-995-5770
Email: Marnie.McBean@sen.parl.gc.ca
SENATOR MANUELLE OUDAR
Province: Quebec – La Salle
Affiliation: Independent Senators Group
Telephone: 613-995-3172
Email: Manuelle.Oudar@sen.parl.gc.ca
SENATOR KAREN SORENSEN
Province: Alberta
Traditional Territory: Treaty 7
Affiliation: Independent Senators Group
Telephone: 613-944-1115
Email: Karen.Sorensen@sen.parl.gc.ca
SENATOR JOHN M. MCNAIR
Province: New Brunswick
Affiliation: Independent Senators Group
Telephone: 613-995-5060
Email: John.McNair@sen.parl.gc.ca
SENATOR CHANTAL PETITCLERC
Province: Quebec – Grandville
Affiliation: Independent Senators Group
Telephone: 613-995-0298
Email: Chantal.Petitclerc@sen.parl.gc.ca
SENATOR ELIZABETH MARSHALL
Province: Newfoundland and Labrador
Affiliation: Conservative Party of Canada
Telephone: 613-943-4011
Email: elizabeth.marshall@sen.parl.gc.ca
SENATOR TRACY MUGGLI
Province: Saskatchewan
Affiliation: Progressive Senate Group
Telephone: 613-943-1382
Email: Tracy.Muggli@sen.parl.gc.ca
SENATOR DAVID RICHARDS
Province: New Brunswick
Affiliation: Non-affiliated
Telephone: 613-943-6263
Fax: 613-943-6265
Email: David.Richards@sen.parl.gc.ca
BUT WAIT… Didn’t we say there were 12 Senators on the committee but we’ve only mentioned 11 emails – so far?
Senator Pierre Dalphond is on the Committee and fighting tirelessly to push this bill through as written. If you have an extra minute or two, please send him a thank you note!
SENATOR PIERRE J. DALPHOND
Province: Quebec – De Lorimier
Affiliation: Progressive Senate Group
Telephone: 613-943-3688
Fax: 613-943-3684
Email: PierreJ.Dalphond@sen.parl.gc.ca
WE ARE CURRENTLY RAISING FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF...
The Bouvry slaughter plant in Alberta is currently closed, though whether that closure is temporary or permanent remains unclear. The plant in Quebec continues to operate.
In British Columbia, independent butchers report receiving requests to slaughter horses alongside other livestock. To some, money is money — and an animal is simply meat so slaughter continues to thrive in the west.
Ban Horse Slaughter continues to intervene directly — purchasing horses from kill buyers and from pens operated by First Nations Bands before they are shipped for slaughter. With the help of a foster network, we place horses into safe, permanent homes.
The costs extend well beyond purchase — transport, feed, veterinary care, and ongoing support.
Ban Horse Slaughter is 100% volunteer-run.
0% goes to salaries.
If you would like to help us continue this work:
T-SHIRTS IN SUPPORT OF HORSE RESCUE FUND
LIMITED TIME OFFER FREE SHIPPING CANADA & USA
THANK YOU SENATOR DALPHOND
IS BILL C-355 DEAD & WHAT'S NEXT?UPDATED February 2026: When Bill C-355 reached the Senate, Senator Pierre Dalphond stepped up as a powerful ally in the fight to end the live export of horses for slaughter. His support gave hope to thousands of Canadians who want...
BOUVRY FINED
JANUARY 6, 2025 BOUVRY FINED A "guilty plea of sorts" today for Bouvry. Instead of going through with scheduled court dates, Bouvry will pay... $17,000.00 in fines and surcharges. Plus a small fortune they would’ve likely dished out for Calgary counsel. January 6,...
URGENT: HELP SAVE 8 HORSES FROM SLAUGHTER
JAN. 18/25 UPDATE: THANKS TO YOUR HELP 16 HORSES ARE SAFE (2 NOW IN PERMANENT HOMES) BUT WITH YOUR HELP WE HAVE ROOM TO SAVE 4 MORE. BOUVRY IS SLAUGHTERING HORSESFirst, let's start with the fact that the Bouvry slaughter plant in Alberta is STILL slaughtering horses....
SHOW HORSES SHIPPED TO JAPAN FOR SLAUGHTER
PERCHERON BREEDER WHO SHOWS HORSES EXPORTS FOR SLAUGHTERFirst published August 31, 2022 - UPDATED December 14, 2024. For years we’ve been told that horses shipped to Japan for slaughter were “purpose-bred.” But according to the publication 'Ontario Farmer', Kevin...
CONSERVATIVES IN FAVOUR OF HORSE SLAUGHTER
SOCIAL MEDIA WRONGLY BLAMING PM TRUDEAU Originally posted July 2024. Please scroll down for updates: April 2025 AND PLEASE... Join us in lobbying for a new bill - and let's not forget that slaughter is legal within Canada - yes, many now know that Canada allows for...
VIDEO: LEAH TAYLOR ROY
STANDING COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOODLiberal MP Leah Taylor Roy is a driving force behind Bill C-355. We love how she made use of the short time given her to set the record straight as to how pet, show, sport and race horses are shipped by air versus the...
PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS OF HORSEMEAT
AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION Quotes are taken from a review published January 26, 2023, titled A review of horses sent to slaughter for human consumption: impact of horsemeat consumption, residual banned drugs, and public health risks...the exportation of...
HORSE MEAT VERSUS BEEF
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EATING HORSE MEAT VERSUS CHICKEN, PORK, LAMB OR BEEF?That is a fair question and one that those of us dedicated to ending the slaughter of horses in Canada and beyond, for human consumption, are frequently asked. Let's start by saying...
YOU MAY BE EATING HORSE MEAT WITHOUT KNOWING
This blog post is worthy of a re-post. You may also be interested in Happy Canada (Slaughters Horses) Day as well.Why aren't Canadian food inspectors surprised there's horse meat in YOUR sausages? Beware, summer BBQ-ers: there could be horse meat in your pork...
LET'S THANK SENATOR DALPHOND OF QUEBEC FOR SUPPORTING BILL C-355 & PERSUADE HIM TO START ANOTHER BILL...
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