PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
CANADIAN SEAL HUNTING (10 March 1998)

That this House condemns the Canadian Government for allowing and subsidising the largest slaughter of marine mammals in the world; notes that this slaughter has been increased yet again to 285,000; deplores the fact that over 80 per cent. of the seals killed are defenceless pups only days or weeks old; notes that the primary purpose of the hunt is to feed the Asian market for seal penises used as aphrodisiacs; deplores the fact that seals are routinely caught alive on sharp hooks, clubbed with illegal weapons, and skinned without even checking to make sure the animals are dead; acknowledges that 27 out of 29 independent scientists stated at a recent seminar that there is no evidence that seals are responsible for the collapse of the cod stocks; agrees with independent scientists that the current rate of killing endangers the harp seal herd; and congratulates the International Fund for Animal Welfare for collecting over one million signatures in Europe calling for an end to the commercial seal hunt.

Sponsored by:
Mr Ian Cawsey (Labour)