Amend farm animal transport regulations

To: Hon. Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
House of Commons, Ottawa ON K1A 0A6

The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that's the essence of inhumanity.

- George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950), "The Devil's Disciple" (1901), act II

Dear Mr. Ritz,

I understand that you have been considering an amendment to antiquated regulations for transporting farm animals across this country. This issue has been allowed to drag on far too long and every day animals are undergoing needless agony. I am writing to ask you to act to enact those amendments now, and in so doing move Canada's agricultural practices into the 21st century.

Canada's transport time limits are among the longest in the industrialized world and are not consistent with scientific findings on animal welfare, which recommend against transporting animals, or at least strictly limiting the length of time animals spend being transported. In Canada, pigs, horses and poultry can be transported up to 36 hours without food water or respite, while cattle, sheep and goats must suffer even longer, up to 52 hours. By contrast, in Europe, most animals may not be transported more than 8 hours.

In 2002, the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare reported that animals' health declines in direct proportion to the time they spend in transit. Diseases like swine flu H1N1 are thus promoted by such practices.

I urge you, in the interests of humanity, to make the necessary amendments to animal transport regulations NOW.

Thank you,

Cym Gomery