The
Honourable Céline Hervieux-Payette, P.C.
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
FOR
IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION
Email
sent to the German Government
Ottawa, February 27th, 2007
Dear
Madam,
Thank you for your e-mail about the seal hunt. It contains
a number of misconceptions that I am glad of this opportunity
to clear up.
First, the seal hunt is not subsidized by the Government
of Canada. It is economically viable.
Second, the seal hunt is not cruel or inhumane. It is the
most closely overseen harvesting of animal resources on
this planet, monitored by veterinarians, the government
and international observers, and it employs techniques that
have been approved by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.
This is a higher standard than any European slaughterhouse
has ever been able to claim. I wonder what you would think
if Canadian organizations demanded international supervision
of the butchering methods in your countryís slaughterhouses.
And what if Canadian observers showed up at the slaughterhouses
of Germany and Europe to protest your practices? What would
you think if, using campaigns of disinformation, these organizations
demanded a stop to the butchering of your calves, pigs,
chickens, horses and lambs and an international trade boycott
of all food products involving anything to do these animals!
Third, the seal quotas defined by our government on the
advice of scientists have never threatened the existence
of the species. On the contrary, the seal population has
tripled in the past 30 years. Do you really think that Canada
is a country of barbarians who are utterly heartless about
the welfare of animals? Admittedly, we are not connoisseurs
of the Hessian Presskopf or the Bavarian Presssack ñ
specialties are not made from vegetables, I understand ñ
but we have the same concern for the environment as do all
peoples who have been able to integrate finite natural and
animal resources into their development.
Fourth, the seal hunt is of vital importants for people
with modest means. You compare your figures to the revenues
for the seafood industry, but I compare them to a seal hunterís
income, and they can represent 25% to 35% of annual earnings
that often strain to reach the Canadian average or quite
simply fall below it.
Fifth, what gives one people the right to tell another how
they should live? Not only are our techniques certified
by the scientific community, not only is the seal hunt closely
monitored, not only does the species continue to multiply,
not only does the hunt make a significant financial contribution
to the lives of the hunters and their families, but also
the hunt is a way of life for Aboriginal populations that
were living in balance with their environment well before
the European colonization. These Aboriginal populations
are Canadians the same as all other Canadians, and their
cultural practices merit respect.
As for hunters who fail to comply with the regulations that
govern the hunt, they are punished under those very regulations.
I donít think you would be in favour of a complete
ban on all vehicular traffic in Germany because a single
motorist caused a fatal accident on one of your highways.
Finally, I would like to draw your attention to the warning
issued by American and Canadian scientists about the risk
that virtually every species of fish and shellfish in the
Earthís oceans will have disappeared by 2050 if industrial
fishing continues at the current rate (Science, November†3,
2006). Without wishing to evade our own responsibility in
this regard, I must point out the contribution that European
overfishing is making to this sad state of affairs.
In short, I believe that humanity is to be found on this
side of the Atlantic Ocean too, and even among Canadian
seal hunters.
Cordially
yours,
The
Honourable Cèline Hervieux-Payette, P.C.
Senator,
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
