Grey seal pups - Hay Island 2009
- Photo HSI/Mark Glover

On Tuesday, May 6, 2009 the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly (550 to 49) to ban the placing of seal products on markets within the European Union. This historic decision represents a massive victory for seals, and marks the beginning of the end of a cruel industry that should have been abolished many years ago.

It is extremely gratifying that the European parliamentarians ignored the Canadian government's shameful attempts at misinformation and emotional blackmail, and respected the wishes of the overwhelming majority of their constituents who want no part of Canad'as cruel seal slaughter or the grisly products derived therefrom.

The Canadian government has threatened to challenge the ban at the World Trade Organization, insisting it is in breach of global trade rules. This means yet more of our tax dollars will be spent defending a cruel and unsustainable industry most Canadians do not want.

The majority of Canadians oppose the commercial seal hunt and object to their tax dollars being used to subsidize and defend it at home and abroad. Rather than spend even more of our hard-earned tax dollars on WTO challenges, the Canadian government should use the money to implement a license buyback program to compensate sealers after abolishing the hunt. The Canadian government should take the EU’s lead and respect the wishes of the overwhelming majority of its own citizens who want this slaughter shut down for good.

Harp seal pup - 2009 - Photo HSI/Mark Glover

However, Instead of respecting our wishes, the government has insulted us further by announcing it has passed a motion that seal skin should be incorporated into the Canadian Olympic team's uniforms. Fisheries Minister Gail Shea has said, "I think it would be a good statement for the Canadian sealing industry, and Canada's support of it." Canada's support of it? Canada does not support this cruel and unnecessary slaughter. The only ones who support it are sealers themselves and the government which has just shown how ridiculously low it is prepared to stoop to secure the sealers' votes.

This latest motion by the government merely shows its desperation to avoid the inevitable collapse of a cruel industry and the realization that alternatives must be implemented. Do not let the government waste any more of our tax dollars on ridiculous motions, expensive and fruitless WTO challenges and the horrendously inhumane slaughter of baby seals.

Europeans have spoken loud and clear. Canadians must now raise their voice. The abolition of Canada's cruel commercial seal hunt is within our grasp, and we must press our government to take the EU's lead, respect the wishes of its citizens, the majority of whom oppose the commercial seal hunt and object to their tax dollars being used to subsidize it and defend it, and abolish this obscene slaughter for good. There are many effective ways to take action now. Here are just a few: