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e-2037 (Animal transportation)

E-petition
Initiated by Shelley Grainger from Annan, Ontario

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled

Whereas:
  • Horses are air shipped from Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg to Japan for human consumption;
  • In 2018, over 7,000 horses were air shipped from Canada to Japan for slaughter for human consumption;
  • 3 to 4 horses are loaded into crates smaller than a single horse stall;
  • Section 141.8 of the Health of Animals Regulations says horses over 14 hands (56”) must be segregated from all other animals for air transport;
  • Many horses being air shipped to Japan are large draft types over 17 hands (68”), contravening the Health of Animals Regulations;
  • The International Air Transport Association (IATA) sets out standards for Live Animals Regulations, stipulating that horses must be shipped individually and have sufficient head clearance;
  • IATA only allows exceptions for small polo ponies or Icelandic horses to be shipped in modified horse containers without partitions;
  • Large draft horses can be 3 times the size of such ponies, therefore contravening IATA regulations;
  • Videos taken at Canadian and Japanese airports show many horses in these crates don’t have sufficient head clearance, with their heads touching the roofs and ears protruding through the crates, contravening IATA regulations; and
  • Flights are 10.5 to 13.5 hours long. Additional hours must be considered for ground transportation, loading into crates, and loading and unloading crates from planes. During this time, horses have no access to food or water.
We, the undersigned, Citizens of Canada, call upon the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to halt air shipments of horses exported for human consumption, due to the ongoing violation of Canadian and IATA regulations.
Open for signature
February 19, 2019, at 10:52 a.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature
June 19, 2019, at 10:52 a.m. (EDT)
Photo - Nathaniel Erskine-Smith
Beaches—East York
Liberal Caucus
Ontario