Horse slaughter for human consumption is legal within Canada and currently, two plants, one in Alberta and another in Quebec are slaughtering horses for that purpose.

In addition, Canada allows for the transportation of live horses to other countries including Japan to be slaughtered for human consumption.

Bill C-355 – if passed – would ban the inhumane transportation of horses destined by air to Japan (and other markets) for slaughter.

The transportation by air for the purposes of slaughter in no way resembles the way sport, show, race and pet horses are carefully transported.

On September 19, 2023, Tim Louis, Liberal MP for Kitchener-Conestoga announced the introduction of a private member’s bill,  Bill C-355 AKA the Prohibition of the Export of Horses by Air for Slaughter Act.

THANK YOU MP LEWIS.

FEBRUARY through APRIL 2024:

Bill C-355 is now before a Parliamentary Committee (Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food), which will study it, in-depth, and will hold public hearings to hear views and may make changes to the bill.

The first discussion – February 13, 2024 was recorded and is provided for you in video form below.

Members of the AG Committee are listed here with their contact information.

It’s especially important to reach out to your Member of Parliament if they are on the committee – or not – especially if they are Conservative or Bloc Quebecois.

Don’t know who your MP is?  Click here.  Please keep writing and phoning, and make your views known.

We were NOT surprised that producers of meat, especially beef in Canada are opposed to this bill even though it has NOTHING to do with the export of any other species than horses and it has nothing to do with the slaughter of horses or other animals within Canada.

On the list — Equestrian Canada and Spruce Meadows — BOTH oppose Bill C-355.

Oh, and if you are like us, there will be more than one section in the video above where you will want to scream.  We not only wanted to, we did.

This video is 45-minutes  but we’re including short snippets HERE.

FEB. 29, 2024:

The second session was almost 2 hours long.  Once again there were parts where we wanted to scream because points were raised and presented as if they were facts – that we know are not.

However in this session, several heroes emerged, those who came prepared with facts and figures to defend the need to end the barbaric practice of shipping horses to Japan  – or any other market – to be slaughtered or fattened for the purpose of slaughter.

[Transcript here.]

MARCH 21, 2024:

There were a few challengs in the early stages of this meeting with the webcast.  At first you will be able to hear but not see the session. [Transcript here.]

APRIL 9, 2024:

Four witnesses during the session today.  We’ll add the transcript as soon as it becomes available.  We should note there is a section where MP John Barlow brings up another topic – the Carbon Tax – it would be easy to think that the meeting is at the point over but it is NOT.  Keep watching and listening.

YOUR MESSAGE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE COMPLICATED.

ONE:  To your Member of Parliament...

I want you to know that I am in favour of Bill C-355 and I want to know where you stand on Bill C-355 - the Prohibition of the Export of Horses by Air for Slaughter Act.

TWO:  To the Honourable Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister of Canada) 

Telephone: 613-992-4211
Fax: 613-941-6900
Email: justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca

I want you to know that I am in favour of Bill C-355 the Prohibition of the Export of Horses by Air for Slaughter Act.  Thank you for your commitment to and support of this bill.

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PLEASE be sure to include your full name, your street/community/postal code and phone number.

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P.S. If you are worried about calling because you think you don't know enough to explain your reasons why, you can always call after hours and leave a message.  Phoning is powerful.