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The CFHS is calling on Canada’s Auditor General to conduct an independent performance audit of the Ministry of Agriculture’s lack of attention to animal welfare. A news release was issued earlier this month to draw attention to the CFHS’s concerns. And a 4 1/2-page letter click here [pdf file: 0.2mb] has been sent to the Auditor General itemizing the many ways in which the federal government is falling far short when it comes to enforcing transport and slaughter regulations, and setting policies that even remotely address animal welfare.
For example, it is prohibited to transport non-ambulatory, severely lame or emaciated animals. Yet only a very small number of penalties or warnings are handed out when ‘compromised’ animals have been transported – even when large numbers of the animals are dead on arrival.
Last year, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada began work on their policy framework for the next five years for the department. Despite the CFHS’s submission of extensive comments, the framework makes no mention of animal welfare whatsoever. This is in stark contrast to other countries like the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand that have implemented animal welfare strategies and have advisory councils to advise government on animal welfare issues. The CFHS finds this shameful.
