News release July 7, 2010

BILL C-544 – A BILL TO BAN HORSE SLAUGHTER IN CANADA
What you can do to help!

On June 16, 2010, NDP Agriculture Critic MP Alex Atamanenko tabled Private Members Bill C-544 that would effectively shut down the slaughter of horses in Canada for human consumption: http://alexatamanenko.ndp.ca/node/511. The basis of the bill is the fact that horses are not food-producing animals and many are treated with drugs that are prohibited from entering the human food chain.

Canadians now have the opportunity to help this Bill become law.
Your efforts will be critical for this Bill's success!

Bill C-544, "An Act to amend the Health of Animals Act and the Meat Inspection Act (slaughter of horses for human consumption)":

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=463...
(Click on the various sub-titles on the left of the document.)

A new petition has been created, http://www.defendhorsescanada.org/pdf/chdcpetition2010.pdf reflecting the components of Bill C-544 pertaining to the amendments of the Health of Animals Act and the Meat Inspection Act. Specifically, these amendments address the dangers to human health as horse-meat products are likely to contain prohibited substances.

The message to our MPs must be specific to Bill C-544. Mr. Atamanenko states, “The fact is that drugs which are prohibited for use during the life of any animals destined for the human food supply are routinely being administered to horses. It is irresponsible for Canada to allow the sale of meat from horses as a food item when they have never been raised in accordance with the food safety practices required for all other animals.”

This summer is our key opportunity to reach out to our Members of Parliament, while Parliament is in recess, before they reconvene in the Fall. Our target date to have petitions delivered to our MPs is September 20, 2010. Please commit to petitioning your Member of Parliament this summer. You may choose to collect names by going door to door, sitting at a table in a shopping mall or by leaving petitions at supportive businesses.

It is important that citizens sign petitions corresponding to the riding they live in, so if your community covers more than one constituency, make sure to offer a choice of several petitions with the riding/MP name at the top of each front page. Collect as many names as you can.

Please do this for the horses!

Your MP's name and contact information can be found here:

http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainConstituenciesCom...

Explain to your elected official that horsemeat may contain drugs that are unsafe for human consumption. Proof of horse-meat toxicity can be found in this recently released scientific paper titled “Association of phenylbutazone usage with horses bought for slaughter: A public health risk": http://www.equinewelfarealliance.org/uploads/Food_and_Chemical_Toxi...

This summer's recess also coincides with new requirements from the European Union, being implemented on July 31, 2010, as a first step in the development of a comprehensive food safety and traceability program for the Canadian equine industry in an effort to protect consumers from tainted horsemeat. Here is a link to the CFIA announcement on this industry changing program: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/newcom/2010/20100129e....

The CHDC has researched the troubling issue of banned drugs commonly found in horsemeat, and has prepared this paper on what the European Union requirements will mean to North America 's horse industry: http://www.defendhorsescanada.org/pdf/finaldisc100314.pdf

For more information on how a bill becomes law, read here: http://www.defendhorsescanada.org/pdf/leg_proc_canada.pdf

The CHDC would be happy to answer any questions or provide guidance in your efforts to gather signatures on your petition(s). We can be contacted at info@defendhorsescanada.org. Please keep us up to date on your progress. We will be in touch with our supporters over the summer months on this critically important legislation that can finally end the slaughter of our beloved horses.

Sincerely,
Sinikka Crosland
Executive Director
Canadian Horse Defence Coalition
info@defendhorsescanada.org
www.defendhorsescanada.org

Views: 25

Replies to This Discussion

Hi, I am totally with the actions taken on the abuse livestock takes during slaughter, horses seem to get the spotlight due to many people having them as pets (including myself). BUT as in the states horses were deemed as pets and then slaughter was banned, leaving unwanted horses starving and neglected in the fields. Horses need to stay as livestock and in that way will always be sent for food, if horses are deemed pets, we do not have anymore rights as a person walking a dog (around here we still have old laws that livestock is to be yielded too, etc etc) we will be paying more for vet services and medical supplies will be harder to find unstead of at a local feed store. Unwanted horses will fill the rescue and rehab places so injured WANTED horses cannot get in, people who once sent horses to meat, will now let them starve to death and rot in their back yard with no water, no medical, no injections etc etc. ATLEAST slaughter horses HAVE TO be fed well or they won't get top dollar, and there death comes relatively quick in regards to a few weeks of starving as a solution.

SO unstead of worrying about stopping slaughter, lets put our actions towards training and hiring people with morals to quickly, and professionally slaughter these animals, with the thought of the animal in mind, transport the animals proudly, give them a pat and give them a herbal calmer so they move less to shoot them, and once the deed is done treat them as meat. I had a chance to discuss slaughter with an AQHA World Championships Judge and he said it is horrible due to the banning of slaughter, horses are dying of starvation, and it came to me that maybe someone will read this and not sign that petition (yes I watched the videos), and make a better idea up, because banning slaughter is not the solution, it just creates a bigger problem.

thank you

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