Last week, Bill S-203 finally passed through the Canadian Senate. The legislation, which took over three years to get past opponents, would ban the cruel captivity of marine mammals, including whales, porpoises, and dolphins, and would ban the breeding of these animals as well.
During those three years, the Senate saw 17 hearings, testimony from 40 witnesses (including six experts from the Whale Sanctuary Project), and numerous attempts at blocking passage by conservative senators.
Bill S-203 must now navigate through the House of Commons. If it passes through this crucial step, whales and dolphins will only be kept in captivity under specific extenuating circumstances. The Whale Sanctuary Project is currently planning rescue and retirement sanctuaries for animals that would fall under the law’s exceptions.
Senator Wilfred Moore of Nova Scotia introduced Bill S-203 in December 2015. Before finally being passed last Tuesday, it was opposed, blocked, and obstructed by conservative Senator Donald Plett, who fought the bill until the very end by introducing amendments in attempts to delay the vote. The last of these amendments was defeated 49-29.
Because Senator Moore reached the mandatory retirement age last year, he was not present for the vote, and sponsorship of the bill has been taken over by Senator Murray Sinclair.
Upon receiving news that the bill had passed, Honourable Moore e-mailed his successor with this message: “Honourable Murray, THANK YOU! I just spoke with your office. Your steadfast support + patience was remarkable. Our mammal friends will be forever grateful.”
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May will sponsor the bill in the House of Commons. Earlier this year, May was joined by members of parliament from all parties at a press conference, during which they called on obstructionist senators to stop playing games with this and other bills intended to protect wildlife.
By the end of this week, the first reading of the bill may take place. This would be followed by two separate hours of debate, which would most likely be scheduled in December or early January. The process is expected to be smoother in the House of Commons than it was in the Senate, despite the possibility of the bill being sent to a committee for further hearings. A final vote could occur before the end of April.
Let us pray . . . It’s time Canada really stepped up for animals. But we have to keep up the pressure on them and boycott all Canadian seafood until they stop the horrific seal murders.
This is good news.
there must be a world-wide ban on any use of animals in entertainment. PEOPLE, PLEASE BOYCOTT ANIMAL ENTERTAINMENT, INCLUDING CIRCUSES!
great news
Protect wildlife!!
I mentioned the WWF below. Note, I have no association with the WWF either professionally or otherwise. That said, the WORLD must UNITE and speak for ALL WILDLIFE! Sea World and ALL so-called aquariums must STOP the captivity of whales and dolphins…no TANK can ever replace the wide open oceans! These creatures SUFFER from lack of natural bonding ET CETERA! As with the WWF, I have no association with Sea World, EITHER! Simply put, I am sickened by HUMANS trampling all OVER the RIGHT OF WILDLIFE to live and thrive in their NATURAL HABITATS!
Just emailed President Trump about this very thing with Canada! ALSO, China LIFTING its ban on endangered tigers (bone) and rhinos (horn) for ancient hocus pocus scientific, medical, and cultural uses!…for treatment of fever, gout, insomnia, meningitis, and many OTHER ‘ailments’…are you KIDDING me??? When pharmaceuticals have already BEEN developed???
HIS Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke issuing IMPORT licenses for African lions ET CETERA by rich White American trophy hunter Steven Chancellor who ADVISES Zinke on wildlife…CONSERVATION???…and the BENEFITS OF HUNTING??? CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN MONUMENTAL PROPORTIONS! Trump MUST reinstate the ban on imports from Zambia and Zimbabwe!
The United Nations discusses all ELSE…WHY NOT WILDLIFE EXTINCTION AT THE HANDS OF TROPHY HUNTERS AND ILLEGAL POACHING AND COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA???
The United States MUST lead the world to SAVE ALL WILDLIFE FROM TOTAL EXTINCTION! The World Wildlife Federation (WWF) cannot do it alone!
THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES — there IS a God!
Whales deserve to be able to live in their natural environment. Hope this bill is finalized!
merci!
Hip hop heray. Thank u 4 protecting our whales an dolphins!!