Take action: help call government to task on lax enforcement of livestock rules
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Photo courtesy of Canadians for the Ethical Treatment of Farm Animals
August 19, 2010
In 2008, the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies called on Canada’s Auditor General to conduct an independent audit of the government’s capacity to ensure the humane treatment of farm animals during transport and slaughter. We took this action in response to numerous reports of blatant regulatory violations, large numbers of animals arriving dead at slaughter plants following gruelling long-distance journeys, and animals being slaughtered inappropriately with no enforcement action taken by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
Two years later, there’s been more video footage showing horrific treatment of horses at slaughter plants, several more meat recalls resulting from inadequate CFIA oversight, and a scathing report documenting abusive treatment of farm animals during transport. Members of Parliament Wayne Easter and Mark Holland are calling, once again, on the Auditor General to conduct an audit of the CFIA’s lax enforcement of animal transport regulations. Maybe this time, the Auditor General will listen.
One has to wonder how much worse it has to get before action is taken to mend a system that is very clearly broken. Twenty-two people died from the listeria outbreak in 2008. Tainted meat is still hitting the shelves and animals are still subjected to outrageous abuses during transport and slaughter. Numerous reports have revealed an appalling shortage of CFIA inspectors, making it virtually impossible for adequate oversight to be in place.
It is frustrating enough that Canada is so far behind the rest of the developed world in terms of farm animal welfare regulations. It is even more shameful that the meagre regulations we do have aren’t being consistently enforced.
Take action today by writing to the Auditor General in support of this much-needed review!
Here is some suggested language to use in your letter:
I strongly support the request made by members of Parliament Hon. Wayne Easter and Mark Holland for your office to conduct an assessment of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s lax enforcement of regulations covering the transportation of farm animals.
I am concerned that the meagre regulations we have to protect farm animals during transportation are consistently going unenforced. A recent report based on CFIA inspection documents found that inspectors are often absent when animals are unloaded from trucks, and that when they are present, they often ignore horrible violations of the regulations.
I urge you to also include in this review the CFIA’s enforcement of regulations covering the slaughter of animals. Earlier this year, video footage from two Canadian slaughter plants showed horses being shot multiple times, whipped and prodded excessively, and strung upside down to have their throats slit while still conscious. These are clear violations of slaughter regulations and they were reported to the CFIA, but the CFIA hasn’t taken any action against the plants in question.
I care about animal welfare, and I expect government agencies to enforce the regulations meant to protect farm animals from unnecessary pain and suffering.
Please note that personalized letters, written in your own words, will carry the most weight.
Send your letters to:
Ms. Sheila Fraser
Auditor General of Canada
240 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G6
Send a copy to your own Member of Parliament too. You can find your MP at www.parl.gc.ca.
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