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Preamble:
WHEREAS Bill S-270 is introducing an Act for the prohibition of exporting live horses for slaughter and Bill C-355 is introducing the Prohibition of the Export of Horses by Air for Slaughter Act; and
WHEREAS the Government of Canada is proposing new legislation and changes to three Acts that will dramatically impact the industry of raising draft horses by imposing fines of $50,000 and up to six months imprisonment for a summary conviction or $250,000 and up to two years imprisonment for an indictment for transporting horses by air for slaughter; and
WHEREAS the Government of Canada is regularly seeking new trade partners and opportunities; and
WHEREAS restrictions on export of live horses for slaughter will shut down an existing market with products already leaving Canada; and
WHEREAS the Government of Canada has not conducted or completed a scientific study as to the impact of transporting draft horses overseas by air on draft horses; and
WHEREAS there are approximately 12,000 to 13,000 draft mares, studs, and foals in Canada that are currently being raised for this market; and
WHEREAS numerous western Canadian slaughter facilities for horses have ceased operations and are not purchasing animals to be processed at their facility; and
WHEREAS producers do not have a local market to distribute their product, but have an already established market globally;
Operative Clause:
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta collaborate with the Government of Alberta and Alberta’s Agricultural Service Boards to oppose federal legislation restricting the export of live horses for slaughter.
Member Background:
In June 2023, singer-songwriter Jann Arden and Senator Pierre Dalphond introduced the Horse Protection Act to the Senate; proposing to ban the export of live horses for slaughter overseas. The ban will come into effect the day the Bill is adopted.
In February 2022 the Canadian Food Inspection Agency suspended its Safe Food for Canadians License for Bouvry Exports in Fort Macleod, Alberta. This facility processed several types of meat including horse, beef, elk and bison and was an avenue for producers to get their product to market. When Bouvry’s ceased operations, producers had to find other ways to get their product to market. Shipping live horses overseas was one way of accomplishing that.
Canada has seen an increase in the number of animals sent overseas in 2023. There are approximately 12,000 to 13,000 mares, studs and foals (mainly draft type) that are raised for this market with an approximate value of $6,000 to $8,000 per mare, $5,000 to $7,000 per stud and $2,000 to $3,000 per foal. Losing this export option will result in many animals either being set loose to the wild and becoming feral or being euthanized. It will have an impact on other businesses such as farriers, truckers, vets and hay producers.
As a result of this legislation, the Government of Canada will quash an already established market while meeting with other nations around the world to open new markets and trade agreements.
• Bill S-270: https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/bill/S-270/first-reading
• Bill C-355: https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/bill/C-355/first-reading
RMA Background:
RMA has no active resolutions directly related to this issue.
Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation
Thank you for your April 11, 2024 letter regarding Resolution 8-24S: Support for the Export of Live Horses for Slaughter. As Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, I am pleased to respond.
Federal Bill S-270, Horse Protection Act (now inactive), and Bill C-355, the Prohibition of the Export of Horses by Air for Slaughter Act, are designed to ban the export of live horses for slaughter.
These concerns fall under regulatory requirements for the live export of animals, which are already addressed under the federal Health of Animals Act and Regulations. This federal act and its regulations are enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Veterinary inspectors employed by the CFIA are present for each air shipment to certify the export adheres to federal requirements, that horses are fit to travel and that the process is carried out humanely.
The live horse export industry averages $11 million annually in Alberta. Since early 2022, The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (AGI) has been in contact with federal counterparts to outline the economic and animal welfare implications of banning live horse export. AGI is actively monitoring the bills’ progress and working to ensure the federal government understands the impacts of any policy change to Alberta.
Thank you again for sharing the RMA Spring 2024 resolution.
Ministry of Rural Economic Development (Federal)
On behalf of the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, thank you for your correspondence of April 11, 2024.
Issues related to the live export of horses fall under the purview of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food. We have therefore taken the liberty of forwarding your correspondence to their offices for consideration.
Development:
The response from the provincial ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation indicates an acknowledgment of the issues related to the export of live horses for slaughter but does not include clear commitments to make progress on the issues specific to the requests of the resolution.
Bill C-355 is still undergoing debate which is currently at second reading and will progress to third reading with amendments. Many of the amendments follow a structure similar to the restrictions outlined in section 19 of the Health of Animals Act with restrictions specific to the export of live horses rather than animals in general. Overall, the amendments add further restrictions and prohibitions on the export of live horses for slaughter by air.
The Bouvry Exports Ltd. meat-packing facility has since had its license reinstated effective April 8, 2022. Additionally, Bill S-270 is now inactive, having been dropped from the Senate Order Paper on March 21, 2024. Despite these positive developments, Bill C-355 may still reach royal assent, causing a significant impact to the industry of live horses for slaughter, including wasted revenue from unusable livestock and related unintended consequences of animals set loose or euthanized. RMA assigns this resolution a status of Intent Not Met and will continue to advocate for the loosening of restrictions and prohibitions of the export of live horses for slaughter.
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