Animal advocates call on Alberta MP to stop horse export to slaughter

Advocates in Edmonton are calling on the federal government to halt horse slaughter for export. (Galen McDougall/CTV News Edmonton)

Just over a dozen people gathered outside of MP Eleanor Olszewski’s Edmonton office Tuesday evening, calling on the federal government to put a stop to its horse export to slaughter.

• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

“Four years ago to this very day, the Liberal government made a promise to Canadians that they were going to ban shipping horses live overseas to be slaughtered in Japan for a raw delicacy,” said Animal Justice staff lawyer Jessica Schwartz.

“And yet, here we are. There’s been no changes. This practice has not been banned as of yet.”

Animal Justice is a Canadian non-profit organization that takes legal action on behalf of animals and pushes to hold industries accountable for abusing them.

The organization estimates more than 10,700 horses have been flown to Japan for slaughter, saying they are often deprived of food, water or rest.

Schwartz and supporters lit candles to remember the horses that have died.

“As Albertans, we have a very special relationship with horses, and the majority of these horses being shipped for slaughter are coming from the Edmonton International Airport,” said Schwartz. “They’re coming from Alberta feed lots – in our own backyard.”

She said federal legislation nearly passed, but the bill died on the order paper when the election was called.

“The Liberal government was very supportive of banning this practice … It was gaining a lot of momentum and we were so very close to actually getting this ban in place and protecting Canada’s horses,” said Schwartz.

Eleven cities across the country, including Edmonton, held vigils to honour the lives of horses and as a call to action.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Galen McDougall