Banning Live Horse Export for Slaughter Updates and Action Items

Lawrence MacAulay is the Minister of Agriculture. Minister MacAulay is now responsible for carrying out the ban of live horse export for slaughter overseas. Supporters are encouraged to contact the Agriculture Minister to demand he follow through on the federal government’s commitment to end this cruel practice.

Contact Agriculture Minister MacAulay: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/lawrence-macaulay(33)#contact

The WHS encourages supporters to write to and/or meet with their MPs on this issue. You can find your MP here: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en

Below is a letter template for supporters to copy and paste in an email to their MP. Just be sure to address it to your MP and sign your name at the bottom. (Copy & Paste into your email)

Dear (MP’s Name Here) 

 As your constituent, I am asking that you support a federal ban on live export of horses for slaughter. In June, MP Tim Louis vowed to introduce a Private Members’ bill that would ban horse exportation for slaughter federally. This was followed a day later by Senator Pierre Dalphond introducing the Horse Protection Act, a Government bill that amends Canada’s Health of Animals regulations to prohibit exporting horses for slaughter.  

 As you are aware, Prime Minister Trudeau mandated Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau to ban horse exportation for slaughter in December of 2021. Since that time, little action has been taken to research and implement this mandate. Politicians, government officials and Canadian constituents across the country are growing in their frustration on the Government’s lack of progress.  

 As you likely know, horses are incredibly complex animals with strong fight or flight instincts. They are susceptible to auditory damages as well as distress when exposed to the deafening roar of the cargo jets. The horses are loaded into cramped, wooden crates where multiple injuries have been documented by watchdog groups. 

 Currently, horses are permitted to travel up to 28 hours without food, water or rest as outlined in the federal Health of Animals Regulations. Unfortunately, studies show that transportation times nearing 24 hours are enough to make horses physically compromised. It is not uncommon for live export shipments to violate the legal 28-hour transportation time limit. Most recently this occurred in December of 2022, where a shipment of horses was documented to be in transport for over 30 hours, with three horses reported ‘down’ upon arrival.  

 As your constituent, I hope that you will join the thousands upon thousands of Canadians and your fellow MPs in speaking out against this issue, and support both bills from MP Louis and Senator Dalphond. The sweet and gentle nature of draft horses was relied upon heavily by early settlers to build the infrastructure of modern-day Canada. To ship them overseas to their deaths is the ultimate betrayal and a poor reflection on Canadian society. 

 I look forward to your response on this matter. 

 Sincerely, 

 (Your Name Here)