At this very moment a “massive trade agreement” is being negotiated “by Canada and the European Union (EU). This agreement is called the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.”
All excerpts are quoted from the Animal Alliance of Canada and AAEV with their permission.
“This Agreement is the largest and most complex free trade agreement that Canada has ever negotiated. As complex as it is, there are only 3 major factors that we need to consider strategically regarding environmental and animal protection.”
The Animal Alliance of Canada, Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada (AAEV) is launching a campaign which will hopefully ensure :
“that the proposed trade agreement now being negotiated between Canada and the European Union prohibits imports from Canada of “products” derived from practices that would not meet the highest EU standards of environment and animal protection.”
Canada’s ongoing deplorable record failing to protect animals in this country is well known around the world. Not only the protection of companion animals but those who suffer endlessly within the Factory Farm Industry and slaughterhouses around this country.
http://www.humanefood.ca/battery.html
http://www.humanefood.ca/sowstalls.html
As clearly evidenced in this one particular video even Toronto, Canada experiences cases of extreme cruelty to those awaiting slaughter:
http://www.wspa.ca/latestnews/2011/Extreme_heat_puts_animals_at_risk.aspx
4 Barn Fires in 4 Days Claim Lives of Over 23,000 Animals
Learn More at: www.cefta.com
Excerpt from Animal Alliance of Canada (AAEV) letter to Agriculture Ministers:
“…the current standards for farm animal transport are completely unacceptable. The CCFA describes the standards as follows:
a) Horses, pigs and other monogastric animals (including chickens, turkeys, ducks etc) can be transported for 36 hours without food,water or rest, in addition to a 5 hour food withdrawal period.
b) Cattle, sheep, goats and other ruminants can be transported for 52 hours within Canada without food, water or rest, in addition to a 5 hour food withdrawal period.
c) Rest periods need only be 5 hours following the maximum travel times, until transport begins again.
d) Current standards are unclear regarding ventilation given that animals are transported during extreme summer and winter conditions.”
“The European Standards are far superior to Canada’s and they are continually being improved. We recommend that current EU standards and future improvements should apply to all imports from Canada since Canada has one of the worst records among developed nations on animal and environmental protection laws, regulations and standards.”
“Despite repeated requests from animal protection groups, Canadian regulators have failed to legislate protection for agriculture animals and to enforce existing laws where cruelty and abuse has been identified. In some cases, Canadian legislators have passed laws that condone animal cruelty as in the case with farm animal transport.”
“We hold out no hope that Canadian legislators will pass laws that meet and exceed European standards. Foot dragging, obfuscation and outright refusal to address farm animal suffering and cruelty have been the norm.”
“The reality in Canada is that our political leaders continue to resist “adopting environmental and animal protection policies, laws and regulations that are “best practices” unless forced to by its trading partners.”
My personal comments:
Canada is attempting to pressure members of the EU “to allow the importation of products that do not meet EU standards, including products that the EU has banned. In fact, that’s the main thrust of Canada’s negotiating position: reducing or eliminating what are called “technical barriers to trade” (TBT) to unacceptable Canadian products.”
Canada and the Canadian industries know already that due to the unacceptable and continued lousy environmental and animal protection standards which seemingly are condoned by Parliament in this country, that they are already in trouble and extremely “vulnerable” to the TBT.
As taxpayers in this country, as the electorate in this country whose blood sweat and tears provide the income these Canadian politicians survive on, we must speak up, we must act….and as we have all seen before…for the most part the officials whom we elect…fail to listen on a most grand scale. Our voices go unheard!!
The goal of this campaign is “to protect the environment and animals”…”to ensure that, if Canada and the EU successfully conclude the Agreement, the EU will only import products produced in accord with EU (not Canadian) environmental and animal protection standards.”
So just how do we do this…by contacting the European Union directly, by not wasting our time with Canadian Politicians whatsoever!!! This approach worked most effectively as seen in the EU ban on Canadian seal products derived from the brutal and horrific manner in which seals are slaughtered in this country.
The Animal Alliance of Canada and the AAEV has produced a mailer to Mr. Vital Moreira, MEP; Chair, Committee on International Trade, European Parliament, and are also inviting those persons who wish to submit their own statements and comments by video to do so. The SPREAD THE WORD video production “will be made available to all EU politicians and officials, and their Canadian counterparts – as well as the general public and press in Europe and Canada.”
To submit your own personal video message please call or email Lia at (416) 462-9541 ext 24 or lian@animalalliance.ca. You may record your video and email to Lia.
Excerpts taken from the Animal Alliance of Canada /AAEV letter to the Agriculture Ministers are contained in this post, the full letter to the Agriculture Ministers is available by contacting Lia as well as additional pertinent information about this campaign. You may also obtain the EU mailer produced by the Animal Alliance / AAEV as well as your own copy of the letter to the Agriculture Ministers which you can then send (EU Mailer) and use the Letter to Agriculture Ministers as a reference in order to write your own personal letters.
On a personal note, I URGE everyone who is concerned about what continues to go on this country and who wishes to do something positive about it, to join in this campaign….to those of you who do…THANK YOU.
You may also write directly to:
Mr. Vital Moreira, MEP
Chair, Committee on International Trade
European Parliament
Rue Wiertz
ASP 13G242
B-1047 Brussels
Gandhi said a nation can be judged by the way it treats the animals in its care.