Canada’s Horse Exportation Industry at a Glance

– Canada is one of the only countries in the world that breeds, raises, and transports horses overseas for slaughter to fill the demand for fresh horse meat.

– Canada’s horse exportation industry ships thousands of horses overseas for slaughter every year. Here are the most recent stats.

– More than 40,000 draft horses have been exported out of Canada since 2013.

– Draft horses are purposely bred for exportation and are shipped out Edmonton, Calgary, and Winnipeg’s airports.

– Horses are raised in barren feedlots without sufficient protection from the elements.

– Horses can endure 30+ hours travel time from the moment they’re loaded onto the trailer at the feedlot to the time they land in Japan, often exceeding Canada’s Federal Health of Animals regulations, which state horses are not to be transported for longer than 28 hours without food water or rest.

– Horses are randomly paired into cramped wooden crates, a direct violation of Canada’s Federal Health of Animals regulations which state any horse over 14 hands must be segregated during transport. A point challenged by the Canadian Horse Defense Coalition in a 2019 lawsuit against the CFIA.

– Horses panic easily, have strong fight or flight instincts, and have extremely sensitive hearing, making air transportation incredibly stressful for them.

– Canada’s privately owned and run horse $8 million exportation industry is not economically justifiable, as it is of no benefit to the Canadian public.

– Once horses arrive in Japan, there is no way to know how they are treated, how long they are housed before slaughter, and how they are slaughtered.

– Horses are slaughtered for sashimi which is not a staple food in Japanese diets, rather a wealthy delicacy for a niche market.

– Multiple deaths and injuries have been reported during the loading and transport process, as well as reported deaths once horses are held in feedlots in Japan.

Recent timeline in the fight to end Canada’s live horse export

Due to animal welfare concerns, the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC) has been advocating for a ban on live horse export since 2012. Over the last few years, Canadian SPCAS such as the Winnipeg Humane Society and BC SPCA have joined the fight to ban this cruel practice.

– February 2021: the CHDC initiated a federal petition e-3187 calling upon the government to stop air shipments of horses exported for human consumption, due to ongoing animal welfare concerns. With 77, 684 signatures, the petition received more public support than any other parliamentary petition for animals.

– September 2021: The Liberal Party pledges to ban live horse export for slaughter in their federal election campaign

– December 2021: Prime Minister Trudeau sends mandate letter to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, which includes banning the live export of horses for slaughter.

– June 2022: The WHS holds a Rally to Ban the Live Export of Horses for slaughter at the Manitoba Legislative building.

– November 2022: CHDC and Jann Arden initiate another federal petition e-4190, calling on the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to halt the live export of horses for slaughter, consistent with the Minister’s mandate letter.

– February 2023: Petition e-4190 closed with a total of 36,175 signatures and is presented to the House of Commons by MP Alistair MacGregor.

– March 2023: Government response to petition e-4190 was tabled, stating they are working to implement the mandate letter to ban live horse export.

– June 2023: Backed by Canadian icon Jann Arden, Senator Pierre Dalphond introduces Bill S-270 to Senate to prohibit live horse export.

– September 2023: Liberal MP Tim Louis introduces Private Member’s Bill C-355 to the House of Commons to prohibit the export of horses for slaughter. The Prime Minister’s Office has expressed their support for this bill.

– November 2023: Bill C-355 begins its second reading in the House of Commons.

– April 2024: Bill C-355 passes Agriculture Committee with amendments.

– May 2024 – Bill C-355 passes 3rd reading in House of Commons and goes on to pass its first reading in the Senate.

– June 2024 – A groundbreaking investigation by Animal Justice and Japanese animal protection group Life Investigation Agency (LIA) finds horse shipments from Canada regularly exceed the legal 28-hour time limit, with all documented shipments from Winnipeg exceeding 30 hours.

Nine animal protection groups also sign letter to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency requesting legal action be taken against the exporters and an immediate moratorium on horse shipments for slaughter until exporters can comply with regulations that say the animals can’t go more than 28 hours without food, water and rest.

             – October 2024 – Day of Action to urge Senate to urgently pass Bill C-355 and ban live export of horses for slaughter, with Humane Canada.

You can also contact Manitoba Senators directly:

• Raymonde Gagne: ☎️ 613-992-4416, ✉️[email protected]
• Charles Adler: ☎️ 613-943-4619, ✉️ [email protected]
• Mary Jane McCallum: ☎️ 613-943-1330, ✉️ [email protected]
• Marilou McPhedran: ☎️ 613-996-2106 ✉️ [email protected]
• Gigi Osler Telephone: ☎️ 613-995-0299 ✉️ [email protected]
• Don Plett Telephone: ☎️ 613-947-6416 ✉️ [email protected]

Bill C-355 Current Progress

On May 9, 2024, Bill C-355 passed its final reading in the House of Commons and moved on to the Senate. The Bill passed its first Senate reading on May 21, 2024 and its second reading is currently in progress.

TAKE ACTION!

Sign Animal Justice’s petition asking the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to immediately put a halt to unlawful horse shipments to Japan which exceed the legal time limit of 28 hours without food, water, or rest, and to prosecute the exporters responsible for these shipments, until a law is finally passed to ban live horse exports for slaughter.

Use your voice and write to the Senate and urge them to support Bill C-355 – Humane Canada has messaging for you to forward to your Members of the Senate.

Additional Resources

History of Horse Exportation from 1990-2021

Horses are Still Being Exported for Slaughter. Will Trudeau Take Action?

HorseShit: Jann Arden’s Horse Exportation Campaign

‘The ultimate betrayal’: Winnipeg Humane Society calls for feds to ban live horse exportation

WHS Video Explaining Horse Exportation

W5: A glimpse inside Canada’s ‘sinister’ horse meat industry

A contentious export: The anatomy of Canada’s horsemeat industry

WHS Blog Post: Canada’s Unwanted Horses: Is Slaughter Really the Solution

If you have further questions, contact [email protected].