Humane Treatment of Farmed Animals

Hello,

Thank you for your continued support of Farmed Animal Welfare. We are pleased to share this update with you since our last report.

After leaving the House of Commons in early May, Bill C-355 passed first reading in the Senate on May 21st and continues to be debated at second reading in the Senate. This bill seeks to prohibit the export by air of horses for slaughter. 

A joint investigation conducted by Canadian and Japanese animal protection groups, has recently shed more light on some major concerns with live horse transport by air. The investigation found that shipments from Canada to Japan frequently exceed the 28-hour maximum transport time mandated by the federal government.  

Bill C-275, a federal ag-gag bill, continues to work its way through Parliament. It is currently being studied by the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, and Humane Canada has been invited to testify. We will highlight the need for a stronger, more robust, transparent and accountable system to protect the welfare of farmed animals, rather than legislation that weakens it. Canada needs to evolve our food system to one that is more humane, just and sustainable – one that recognizes the interconnections between the health and welfare of humans, animals and the environment. 

 Humane Canada Welcomes a Manager for Farmed Animal Welfare Work 

The last three months have marked significant progress in our advocacy efforts to improve the welfare of farmed animals. We proudly welcomed a new team member as our Manager of Farmed Animal Welfare. With extensive training as a veterinarian and farmed animal welfare researcher, her leadership has strengthened our approach. She will support the existing team members who have made significant strides in advancing meaningful and positive change at the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC). 

One highlight is the release of the Beef Code top-of-mind survey results by NFACC. We were thrilled that the survey received 3,059 responses—more than double that of previous Codes. This overwhelming response shows how much Canadians care about the treatment of cattle raised for meat. The main areas of concern were painful practices, housing, handling, mistreatment, and abuse. Thanks to your support, we can amplify these voices and advocate for substantial improvements in the life of cattle welfare. 

Continuing with our work at NFACC, we are working with a highly experienced equine veterinarian specializing in behaviour and horse training, who will represent us on the Equine Code committee. They have started work this summer and will focus on advancing positive changes for the welfare of equines in Canada. In addition, NFACC released the top-of-mind survey for the Sheep Code in July, and Humane Canada quickly spread the word through our social media channels and mailing list, ensuring that those who care about farmed animals had the chance to be heard. 

Humane Canada remains dedicated to championing meaningful improvements in farmed animal welfare through proactive engagement, advocacy and collaboration with stakeholders across Canada. But we can’t do this alone. Your support is vital in driving these initiatives forward, ensuring that the welfare of farmed animals is prioritized and protected. Thank you.

Links:

• Beef Code Survery
• Humane Canada