Humane Society hosting animal welfare debate ahead of federal election

The Winnipeg Humane Society is hosting an election debate to see where candidates stand on the topic of animal rights.

With less than a week before the federal election, the Winnipeg Humane Society is finding out local candidates’ positions and ideas when it comes to animal welfare.

On Tuesday evening, the non-profit organization is hosting a debate focused on animal-related topics. The candidates participating in the debate are Ian MacIntyre with the Liberal Party, NDP candidate Emily Clark, and the Green Party’s Dennis Bayomi.

The 90-minute debate will cover key issues that impact companion animals, farm animals, and wildlife. The topics include the exportation of live horses for slaughter, the creation of pet-friendly housing, funding for veterinary services in northern communities, intensive confinement, and the import and export of hunting trophies.

Animal advocacy lawyer Krista Boryskavich said she knows there are a lot of issues dominating the current election cycle that may be put at a higher priority than animal welfare; however, she added that it’s important to still take animal-related issues into consideration.

“We think it’s important that animal welfare issues are not taken off the table and that we understand what the parties think and whether or not they’re animal-friendly parties that we can work with [to] go forward and try and make a more humane Canada for all of the animals,” she said.

The debate is set for Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Winnipeg Humane Society, located at 45 Hurst Way. Manitobans are encouraged to come and watch the debate in-person or by Zoom.