Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada

U.S. quietly lifts controversial ban on horse slaughter

2011-12-02T11:51:00.000-08:00

From yesterday's Toronto Star: www.thestar.com/news/article/1095751

This week U.S. Congress quietly lifted a five-year ban on funding horse meat inspections, opening the possibility that slaughterhouses could be up and running within weeks. In 2006, the U.S. federal government stopped providing funds for inspections at plants that slaughter horses intended for human consumption.

Since then horses that would have been slaughtered in the U.S. have been diverted to plants in Mexico and Canada.

"It was all done secretly," says Silvia Christen, executive director of the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, who says she and her member ranchers were pleased with the news. "It was passed by Congress in a budget meeting."

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a statement Tuesday confirming that it was prepared to inspect facilities set up for horse slaughter to make sure federal laws were being followed. And the first facility may be in South Dakota.

Christen believes there are facilities prepared to go into action almost immediately. But she also says inspections will be "more stringent than they were before the ban. There will be a lot of people watching to make sure slaughter facilities follow appropriate procedures - to make sure they treat the animals humanely."

This summer, reporters from the Star followed a trailer truck filled with horses purchased at auction in Shipshewana, Ind., through to its final destination at Richelieu Meats near Montreal. The shocking revelation of the long drive and poor treatment led one Toronto restaurant to remove horse meat from its menu.

At issue was not simply the morality of eating horse meat but rather the mistreatment of horses shipped in cramped conditions without food or water over days toward certain, and perhaps inhumane, death in Canada.

The U.S. Government Accountability office reported that 138,000 horses were transported to Canada or Mexico in 2010 - virtually the same number killed before slaughter was banned in the U.S.

Equine welfare advocates were hoping the ban would remain in effect and there would be an additional ban on the transportation of horses meant for slaughter across borders. That didn't happen.

Canada was even labelled "opportunistic" - taking advantage of a situation in which horses could be purchased in the U.S. for less than $50 and sold toEurope and Asia at a considerable profit. Some horse meat is also consumed in Quebec.

It is a controversial issue that has even horse lovers divided. While some animal welfare organizations insist horses should not be slaughtered for human consumption, others, including the American Veterinary Medical Association, acknowledge there is a problem with horse overpopulation in the U.S. - and that it would be better to kill the animals humanely rather than
allow them to starve to death.

For example, as horse owners lost their farms to foreclosure during the economic downturn over the past few years, there were reports that horses were being set free in open ranges to survive on their own. Ultimately many horses, unaccustomed to fending for themselves, died slowly and painfully, say equine advocates.

Animal welfare organizations noticed a spike in horse neglect investigations after 2007.

But many animal lovers insist horses are not like cows or sheep in that they are not raised to be eaten and are often medicated with drugs rendering them unfit for human consumption. And the European Union, a large buyer of horse meat, has increased its own inspection standards regarding the safety of the meat in imports.

Many ranchers, however, are celebrating.

One Wyoming lawmaker dismissed the 2006 ban, which took its toll on the state's agriculture industry, for what she called sentimental notions.

The legislation has already sparked an emotional response from animal rights activists.

Sinikka Crosland, executive director of the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition, says she was disappointed to hear the news that horse slaughter plants could reopen in the U.S. She was surprised U.S. President Barack Obama would sign such a bill considering he had previously indicated he did not support horse slaughter.

"A few people managed to slip this through in the Department of Agriculture," says Crosland, who remains optimistic a federal bill, currently before Congress called the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act of 2011, will supersede this recent bill and end horse slaughter completely.

Caribou going down, Moose to be slaughtered, in Newfoundland

2011-11-21T07:41:00.000-08:00

Newfies continue tradition of bad wildlife decisions.

By: Barry Kent MacKay

I love Newfoundland, “The Rock”, as it is known in Canada. It is a huge island, the easternmost landmass in North America, and a place out of time, possessed of a cold, rugged beauty encompassing forests, rocky cliffs and shorelines, deep fiords, ancient mountains and bleak seas. It also has a bloody history of animal destruction. Newfoundland species and endemic subspecies of wildlife driven to extinction include the Labrador Duck, Atlantic Gray Whale, Newfoundland Wolves, Sea Mink, Great Auks, and the migratory Eskimo Curlews. Other species have greatly declined, most infamously including the Northern Cod (although, of course, the Newfoundland fishing industry and federal government, after years of ignoring all scientific warnings about overfishing, blame the seals for the disastrous collapse of commercial fish stocks – a collapse that continues to this day).

By virtue of it being an island, Newfoundland lacks many species that are common on the mainland, just over the horizon. These include such species as frogs and Ruffed Grouse, the Striped Skunk, Wolverine, Least Weasel, porcupine, jumping mice, White-tailed Deer and, well, the Moose!

Weighing in at 300 to 600 kilograms, the Moose is the world’s largest deer, and one of the most widely distributed, with 8 subspecies spread around the northern hemisphere, but not, originally, on the island of Newfoundland. That would never do, and so about a hundred years ago a very small number of Moose were moved from the mainland, and released in Newfoundland; a bigger target for hunters than the native, but smaller, Caribou. The third and final species of deer native to the nearby mainland, the White-tailed Deer, is even smaller than the Caribou, and also is not native to the island of Newfoundland.

In November, 2011, Canadian Boreal Initiative released a bulletin called Intact Habitat Lanscapes and Woodland Caribou on the Island of Newfoundland, by Dr. Jeffrey Wells, Dr. John Jacobs, Dr. Ian Goudie and Jonathan Feldgajer, which referenced research indicating that the Caribou, the one native deer on the vast island of Newfoundland, had decreased by two thirds.

This at a time when we are fighting to try to prevent planned lethal culling of Moose, the larger, and non-native deer species, whose numbers are burgeoning to the point that there have been many horrific collisions with automobiles on the island’s roads.

But here’s the catch, and the proof that we are dealing with a species out of control – not Moose, but us! The reason that Moose are increasing to a point where they are regarded a serious road hazard is the exact same reason that has been identified as the primary factor driving the caribou to endangerment, and that is the practice of cutting large swaths of timber. It’s even allowed in national parks!

In 2002 the caribou population was estimated at around 85,000 animals, but has now dropped to about 32,000 animals. Caribou need joining “corridors” of intact forest to navigate their migratory routes in relative safety from bears. Bears are nowhere near as likely to kill caribou as wolves, but they were wiped around 1913, close to when, in 1904, four moose from Nova Scotia firmly established that species on the island (there were earlier attempts, apparently unsuccessful). The coyote is not as efficient a predator of ungulates, but in the 1980s they established themselves by crossing the ice from the mainland.

Both Moose and Caribou are, of course, hunted for “sport”.

We are advocating a more nuanced forestry practice, including the protection of forests in national parks, and the establishment of protected forest areas that will contribute to fewer moose and more caribou. Moose might well have reached the island on their own, of course, it is just a quirk of ecological fate that they did not. But they should never have been wiped out. Wolves should never have been exterminated. Forestry management should be more nuanced, and regulated to consider the needs of caribou. Coyotes also benefit from deforestation. Saving Newfoundland forests from clearcutting would be a good major step in correcting a long history of bad decisions.

Ontario Election Results

2011-10-13T13:54:00.000-07:00

The Vegan Environmental Party unofficial results for the 2011 Ontario Election:

Mississauga South - Paul Figueiras - 165 votes

Don Valley West - Rosemary Waigh - 108 votes

Toronto Centre - Harvey Rotenberg - 102 votes

Congratulations and great work!

Ontario Elections - Vote Vegan!

2011-09-28T11:18:00.000-07:00

For voters in Ontario, you can go cruelty-free and vote Vegan!

The Vegan Environmental Party of Ontario is newly formed and has three candidates running in this election:

Mississauga South - Paul Figueiras

Don Valley West - Rosemary Waigh

Toronto Centre - Harvey Rotenberg

You can visit the Party's facebook page via the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vegan-Environmental-Party-Parti-%C3%A9cologique-v%C3%A9gan/283571875003156?sk=info&ref=nf

A wise man

2011-08-22T12:43:00.000-07:00

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.

All my very best,
Jack Layton

***

Wise words from a wise man who will be deeply missed.

We will do our very best to turn his words into reality.

Our condolences to his family and to all Canadians who were touched by this great man.

Lia and the AAEVPC crew

Horse Slaughter Article

2011-07-31T08:07:00.000-07:00

Good article in The Saturday Star (link below).

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1032379--dirty-little-secret-canada-s-slaughter-industry-under-fire?bn=1

Video Production delayed

2011-07-14T06:57:00.000-07:00

Because of the mail strike, the majority of supporters still have not received their invitation to the "Spread the Word" video production. As a result, we're rescheduling the shoot.

We'll let everyone know the new date once we reorganize ourselves.

Sorry everyone!

Lia

Spread the Word

2011-07-05T11:34:00.000-07:00

Video Production Invitation

You and your friends and family are invited to come to the Animal Alliance / Environment Voters office to add your voice on video to Canadians demanding that the proposed Canada - EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement protect animals and the environment, not harm them. For more information about the Agreement, click here.

The final production will be made available to all EU politicians and officials, and their Canadian counter-parts - as well as the general public and press in Europe and Canada.

WHEN: Saturday, July 23 and Sunday, July 24. Choose the day that works best for you.

TIME: Anytime between 10 am and 4 pm

WHERE: Suite 101, 221 Broadview Avenue, Toronto M4M 2G3

WHY: To video brief statements from Canadians urging European Union officials and politicians to ensure that the proposed free trade agreement between Canada and the EU increases protections for animals and the environment, and does not entrench or worsen Canada's horrific environmental and animal protection record.

RSVP: Please, call or e-mail Lia at 416-462-9541 ext: 24 or contact@environmentvoters.org to let us know if you're coming.

REFRESHMENTS: A selection of vegan snacks and beverages.

CAN'T MAKE IT? If you're not able to visit us to record your comments, you can always make your own video using a camera, cell phone or computer. Send it to us by regular mail, e-mail or by uploading it to the Internet, and we'll add your voice to the video.

No Crisis in Hay River Shelter

2011-06-26T06:44:00.000-07:00

From Bonnie Dawson, in Hay River.

***

Having just received a long distance call from the President of the HR SPCA who is currently out of town, I found comfort in learning that there is NO CRISIS situation with the shelter in Hay River.

I wish to apologize to all of those who have contacted me so far and do greatly appreciate that you were so quick to respond.

The information which I had been provided in the email request I received yesterday from the Hay River By Law Officer asking for my assistance,( as well as follow up telephone conversations), to utilize my own network of contacts was unfortunately as it turned out to be .... inaccurate....leading me to believe and to Post an Urgent Request for help...believing that the shelter was full to capacity and that no additional animals could be taken in.

I have learned in speaking with the President of the HR SPCA that at present there are actually three (3) dogs currently in foster care and two cats which need to be placed. .... a great relief to me.

Again I sincerely and publicly extend an apology for issuing an unnecessary ALERT and a deep and honest thank you to all of you who have responded so quickly.

Should anyone wish to inquire about the current three (3) dogs and two cats looking for loving forever homes, please contact Kerry at the HR SPCA.

Hay River SPCA at: 867-874-3667 : likely having to leave a message or email: hrspca@hotmail.com

To view HRSPCA Page: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NT03.html

NWT Animals in Need of Homes!

2011-06-23T13:53:00.000-07:00

We just received this appeal today - relayed by Bonnie Dawson from Hay River. Please feel free to circulate.

If you have any questions, Bonnie can be reached through her website http://bonniedawson.com/

***

Hello everyone

Today I received an email from the Hay River By-Law Officer requesting my help in getting both dogs and cats that have been at the Town shelter too long relocated out of the NWT to shelters elsewhere where they would stand a better chance of finding forever homes. There is no room left to take in any more animals if found as strays, abandoned or injured.

I have requested more information, i.e. # of cats and # of dogs involved, as well as pictures if possible. (I just spoke to him and he should have the exact #'s to me likely by the weekend).

I do not want to see any of these animals having to be put down.

If anyone is able to help, by accepting any of these animals, please contact me ASAP.

To quote the By-Law Officer "We are looking for places that will not charge the Town any monies and will hopefully cover all, or at least some of the shipping charges to send the dogs and cats to them and also pay the shipping charges to return the crates back to us."

I am sure that arrangements on the above quoted may be discussed further.

This is an URGENT request.

Please circulate this widely. Remember the NT does not have shelters as does other provinces, we have only 3 small shelters where volunteers care for the animals; and only one veterinary hospital located in Yellowknife. We have no resident vets to perform humane euthansia if it comes down to that...hopefully it won't.

Thanks Everyone

From the Canadian Wolf Coalition

2011-06-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

ACTION ALERTS!

1. The BC government is finally coming up with a Wolf Management Plan for the province.We want to make sure it’s based on conservation, ethics, and a healthy future for wild wolves, and that shareholders such as ENGO’s, First Nations peoples, agricultural interests and others are all heard and part of the process. Visit our website (www.canadianwolfcoalition.com) to stay informed, and let BC Minister of Forests, Lands and NRO Steve Thomson know that wild wolves and the wilderness they require is a public asset Canadian’s want to see protected.

Call: (250)387-6240

2. Add your name to the petition against the sterilization of wolves in BC at http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-the-sterilization-of-wolves-by-bc-vets. In just 10 years 79 wolves were removed and 52 sterilized as part of an experimental project. Visit ourhomepage or Facebook site to learn more. There are over 1,400 signatures and growing! The BC College of Veterinarians was swamped by e-mails from supporters like YOU and we’ve got their attention…let's keep it!

3. The High Prairie region of Big Lakes Alberta still has a $300 bounty on wolves. If you have not yet written, phoned, or e-mailed the decision-makers responsible, learn how to make your howl heard from our homepage. More than 60 wolves have already been killed and claimed over 7 months.

4. Great Canadian Heliski Company’s proposal to expand into critical caribou habitat after failing to live up to their end of the promise to the Mountain Caribou Projects Recovery Implementation Plan is still being processed. The COMMENT PERIOD HAS BEEN EXTENDED. Let them know you don’t want to see more human scars in habitat recognized for its critical importance to caribou,wolverines, and other sensitive species.

Contact: Sharon.Dailey@gov.bc.ca and AuthorizingAgency.Cranbrook@gov.bc.ca, reference file number4410686. Please cc. canadianwolfco@gmail.com

Great News from Bonnie Dawson, NWT Candidate

2011-05-31T14:07:00.000-07:00

(Received May 26 - Terrific work, Bonnie!!!)

Yesterday I received the mailed hard copy confirmation letter from MACA Min. Robert McLeod's office, date stamped May 17, 2011. Same letter I had received via email on May 18th.

New Dog Act came into effect on May 15, 2011.

NWT cannot pat itself on the back just yet. Enactment of the new Dog Act moved NWT to Third Last place for Best Place to Abuse Animals. Still nothing to be proud of, a minor improvement at best.

It is most encouraging to see that after three years of my hard work (2008-2011) pressuring the GNWT I have won a Victory for the Dogs here in the NWT. While it is not the Comprehensive Animal Protection Act that I have been fighting for, it is an "interim measure until a comprehensive Animal Protection Act" can be legislated. The motion was brought forward and carried in the Legislative Assembly on March 4, 2011 (Hansard) to continue working towards a comprehensive act, which means that the new government resulting from the Fall election are to continue working towards that goal. I want to see a Comprehensive Animal Protection Act similar to that of Ontario (The Best in Canada). Note that I provided every Canadian Provincial Act to the GNWT for them to draw upon as a Template, as well as graphic pictures, incidents as reported by the media and countless research documents on the Link Between Animal Cruelty and Human Violence. My hope is that the GNWT will adopt an Act closely like that of Ontario ..the Best in Canada.

The decades of unprosecuted and continuing violence against animals should now hopefully come to an end. With the New Dog Act in effect and combined with the Federal Criminal Code perpetrators of neglect, cruelty and violence against dogs should be properly charged and face the consequences. There is no viable or acceptable excuse that can be given for not charging and prosecuting these individuals to the fullest extent of the Territorial and Federal Law.

I will continue my work towards the Comprehensive Animal Protection Act, will continue to monitor all cases of violence against animals in the NWT and I will continue to draw Global attention to these incidents. Until such time as a Comprehensive Act is legislated in the NWT the territory will remain in the bottom tier compared to the rest of Canada. Until such time as violators/offenders in animal cruelty cases are charged and successfully face the justice deserved for their acts of violence against animals the territory will remain in the bottom tier.

Fifth place candidate glad she ran

2011-05-05T08:47:00.000-07:00

May 4, 2011

Yellowknife, N.W.T. - The fifth place finisher for the Western Arctic seat has mixed reactions to this week's federal election.

Bonnie Dawson of the Animal Alliance Environment Voters' Party got 87 votes at the polls in the NWT, garnering 0.6 per cent of the vote -- more than she and likely many others expected.

"I'm quite happy with the number of votes I got. I'm rather surprised. I knew there were going to be people voting for me, but I was surprised. So I'm happy about that. But I would've liked to have seen a better outcome as far as change in government and leadership."

Dawson said even on election day she was getting emails from people asking her position on topics like animal research and the commercial seal hunt on the East Coast.

She believes that by running in the election, she's had a better opportunity to speak about animal and environmental rights and hopes more people will be aware and educated on the issues.

One such issue, Conservative tax breaks for big business, ignores the reality of how the oil sands are affecting the entire food chain, she said.

"They're not worried about people dying in Fort Chip dying of these cancers. They're not worried about the land and vegetation that is contaminated and the wildlife that eats that contaminated vegetation. In turn, the people eat that contaminated meat. They're not worried about that."

Dawson, from Hay River, is known for lobbying the Government of Northwest Territories for improved animal rights legislation, which resulted in a recently updated Dog Act.

She said she'll continue pushing for a comprehensive animal protection bill to include more than dogs.

CJCD Mix 100 News
http://www.mix100.ca/news_and_sports/news/Local/11/05/4/Fifth-place-candidate-glad-she-ran

Election Results

2011-05-03T07:03:00.000-07:00

Animal rights candidate happy she pushed for change

Kim Zarzour May 02, 2011 - 9:20 PM

Not expecting move to 24 Sussex, Liz White still pleased she challenged environment minister on issuesLiz White doesn’t need to wait until the results come in tonight to know she didn’t win, but she’s fine with that.“I don’t think I’ll be moving to 24 Sussex Dr. or anything exciting like that,” said the Thornhill candidate for the Animal Alliance Environment Voters party, while she prepared for her election night party.She planned to celebrate Monday night at a downtown hotel with six of the seven candidates her fringe party fielded this election because she’s happy her group was able to raise the issues no one else wanted to discuss.

Ms White, who lives in Toronto, chose to run in Thornhill to take on Conservative candidate, and Minister of the Environment, Peter Kent.

“I honestly don’t think they’ll vote for me, but I hope they don’t vote for Kent.

“We invest huge amounts of money fighting all the stuff he does,” she says, pointing to activities like the recent cormorant cull at Point Pelee.

While she doesn’t expect to put a big dent in Mr. Kent’s campaign, she says she would definitely run against the environment minister again.

“Change doesn’t come from the mainstream,” she says. “Those who campaigned for the women vote were looked upon as extremists, crazy, fringe, all the things i get called. But change comes from people at the edges.”

http://www.yorkregion.com/website/article/1001496--animal-rights-candidate-happy-she-pushed-for-change

***

A big thank you to everyone who supports the ideals upon which the Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party are founded. More and more people are acknowleding that things must change for animals and the enironment, as evidenced by Elizabeth May's historical win.

Official results from the Elections Canada website are as follows:

Marie Crawford (Toronto - Danforth) - 476 votes
Bonnie Dawson (Western Arctic) - 87 votes
Karen Levenson (Guelph) - 123 votes
Simon Luisi (Davenport) - 128 votes
Yvonne Mackie (Newmarket - Aurora) - 182 votes
Anna Maria Valastro (London North Centre) - 236 votes
Liz White (Thornhill) - 219 votes

The cormorant cull on Middle Island (Point Pelee National Park) contines over the next two weeks. Liz has been back and forth between Toronto and Middle Island where she has been observing the slaughter by Parks staff. In spite of the obvious disturbance to the other nesting bird populations (Great Blue Herons in particular), Environment Canada has determined that there has been no violation under the Migratory Birds Convention Act or Regulations. Very disappointing, although not surprising.

Lia and the AAEVPC crew

Yesterday's Thornhill Debate

2011-04-28T10:54:00.000-07:00

Well, I think Liz's chances of being sent to Ottawa are slim to none (statistically speaking), but she, nonetheless, wooed the crowd at the Thornhill Community Centre last night.

A number of young vegetarians approached her after the debate to say how glad they were that she spoke about animals. And she has received a number of complimentary e-mails today. One person said he wouldn't be voting for her but that her answers made the most sense and thanked her for running. None of our literature was left behind, disgarded by the crowd, so we take that as a good sign!

Liz had the opportunity to speak about Parks Canada, which is under the purview of Peter Kent's Environment Ministry. She said:

I have a very warm spot in my heart for Peter Kent - the man. When I first was a candidate and I canvassed Peter Kent on my street, he invited me into his home and we taked about his interest and compassion for animals. I found him a warm and caring person.

That's why I have so much trouble with Peter Kent - the Conservative - a person who supports dirty oil, the sale of asbestos and the slaughter of wildlife in our national parks, all across the country.

From the Peaceful Parks Coalition:

Parks Canada has a history of killing wildlife they perceive has having no value:

Sable Island – 100,000 grey seals in the first year, 30,000 grey seals in subsequent years (proposed). Horses and gulls under consideration.
Gros Morne and Terra Nova National Parks – moose
Cape Breton National Park – coyotes
Point Pelee National Park, Sidney Island, St Lawrence Island – white-tailed deer
Elk Island – bison and elk
Banff National Park – elk
Gwaii Haanas and Kejimkujik – raccoons
Middle Island, Point Pelee National Park- double-crested cormorants

Canada’s national parks fall under federal jurisdiction. In this federal election, please consider the state of national parks when casting your ballot. Currently, the only issues being highlighted is taxes – money- because the front runners believe that is all we care about.

Please raise environmental and animal welfare issues when your local candidate comes knocking.

Home stretch...

2011-04-25T10:23:00.000-07:00

Only a few more days till voters head to the polls. Our candidates are quite busy, between interviews, debates and their regular day jobs! But the voters they have been talking to have been very open and receptive to animal issues. Yvonne Mackie, our candidate in Newmarket-Aurora said it was particularly inspiring to visit a high school and talk with the students, many of whom were very interested in the Party.

As with the last election, people have been calling us, asking if we have a candidate in their riding. In 2008 we had 4 candidates; this time we have 7. If anyone would like to give being a candidate a try, please call us.

On Saturday Liz attended a public forum for Canada's smaller parties. Please visit the Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada website for details (http://www.mlpc.ca:80/Articles/2011/F11-1316.HTM).

Ever onwards.

Lia and the AAEVPC crew

Thrilling Time to be a Volunteer at Animal Alliance Environment Voters

2011-04-07T14:57:00.001-07:00

I've been a volunteer for Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada for almost 3 years now. We volunteers do the necessary but unglamorous work of stuffing envelopes for mail-outs, revising addresses, updating fax numbers, and whatever else needs doing.

I quickly learned that human cruelty towards animals is awfully pervasive: there’s the seal hunt; puppy mills; horse slaughter; factory farming; laboratory testing on animals; coyote bounties; deer culls; the plight of elephants in Canadian zoos; rodeo brutality; roadside zoos ... The horrors affect me so deeply that I cannot bear to read about them anymore.

With the upcoming election on May 2, 2011, Animal Alliance / Environment Voters has a great opportunity to get our platform into the public forum for debate. We have 7 candidates standing for federal election this May.

Prior to the election call, Animal Alliance Environment Voters fought to protect wildlife in our national parks. You would think wildlife would be safe in our national parks. Sadly this is not the case. In fact, some wildlife is targeted and sometimes dealt harshly by the very agency mandated to provide protection. In addition to the cormorants on Middle Island, Parks Canada is considering or has already implemented the slaughter of moose in Gross Morne and Terra Nova National Parks in Newfoundland, elk in Elk Island and in Banff; bison on Elk Island; raccoon in Gwaii Haanas and Kejimkujik; and whitetail deer in St. Lawrence Island and in Point Pelee.

The Party for the Animals in Holland has demonstrated that it is possible to give animals and the environment a political. They have party members in Parliament and in their Senate. Their goals are to see animals living free from suffering caused by humans, and to promote animals’ rights to live naturally in their natural environment. They pressure the other political parties to work for change so that animal interests will not be continually subordinate to economic interests.

What is happening in Holland to improve the lives of animals can and will happen here in Canada too! Lynda Spencer

A Looming Election

2011-03-25T07:25:00.000-07:00

The Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada is your federal political party. AAEVPC makes it possible for you to hold federal politicians accountable for their environmental and animal policies during elections, when it matters most. Our political party - the only party singularly focused on animal and environmental protection - would not exist without your vision, passion, and generosity.

Right now we’re finalizing our campaign messages for the coming election, and we'd appreciate your views and counsel. Tell us, please, what would you like us to say to the Conservative, Liberal, and NDP leaders and candidates on your behalf? What questions can we raise for you at all candidates’ meetings? What answers can we demand from the candidates running where you vote?

Please e-mail us your thoughts - today if at all possible. Tell us your hopes and dreams for a more compassionate, healthy world. Tell us what issues you’d like to see us campaign on.

Click here for a list of our achievements (all thanks to your support) over the last year.

Remember, our party, your party, is the only federal political party that gives the animals and the environment a political voice - the powerful, national voice needed to secure protection for all animals and the environment.

On behalf of all of us here at AAEVPC, thank you!

Seal hunt on Hay Island underway

2011-02-24T13:46:00.000-08:00

Grey seal hunt begins in Hay Island, N.S.
Federal quota of 1,900 animals, down from last year

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2011/02/24/ns-hay-island-seal-hunt.html

Ontario's Illegal Coyote Killing Contests

2011-02-09T13:39:00.000-08:00

Please take a few minutes to help stop the mindless persecution of coyotes in Ontario. Dalton McGuinty knows the Coyote Killing Contests are both illegal and immoral, but unless you and I let him know that we will no longer tolerate such cruelty, it will continue.

It’s bad enough that coyotes can be killed year-round in Ontario, leaving newborn pups to die, but if these barbaric contests are not stopped, it will add another whole dimension to this barbaric 'sport'. One where people and their pets will be afraid to venture into natural areas this summer.

For convenience, you can simply choose to use some of the points listed in the following link in your email to McGuinty, with a copy to your MPP and, if you live in the Ottawa area, your City Councillor. Please bcc webmaster@wildlifeontario.ca as well. Please do not forward the 'Take Action' page to politicians, however, as it will not count as personal comment.

http://wildlifeontario.ca/content/action/actionalert/Stop-Coyote-Killing-Contests/index.html

Together, we can make a difference for these animals. Please forward this to your friends and family as well. To have the greatest impact, Dalton McGuinty needs to receive a large number of letters over the next few days, so even if you’ve written before, do so again.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call us at 416 - 462 - 9541 or e-mail contact@environmentvoters.org

For recent news articles on this issue, please visit www.animalalliance.ca and click on the "Resources" page.

Thank you for all your help!

Liz and the AAEVPC crew

UVic bunnies in danger again!

2011-01-25T07:39:00.000-08:00

The Responsible Animal Care Society (TRACS) needs our help.

The Battle of the UVic bunnies is not over.

After volunteers successfully rescued the majority of the abandoned pets (Nearly 900 rabbits!!) to sanctuaries, the University of Victoria in BC recently announced plans to kill any abandoned pet rabbits that they find on the campus after March 1st. Volunteers, under the TRACS umbrella, have delivered hundreds of rabbits to the Wild Rose Rescue Ranch in Texas. All spays and neuters are being paid for by FurBearer Defenders!!

In order to save the rabbits and move them to their new home sanctuary, a government wildlife permit is required. TRACS's Wildlife Permit to move the rabbits expires on March 31st. They have asked for it to be extended, as the University says the killing of rabbits will resume March 1st.

Prior to government approval of the permit, the university killed over 100 innocent bunnies in May of 2010. By signing this petition, you are showing your support for the continuation of the rabbit rescue, and sending a message to UVic and the local municipal governments that killing abandoned pets and their offspring is unacceptable and inhumane. By signing the petition, you also support the municipalities changing their bylaws to stop the sale of unsterilized rabbits and to strengthen and enforce the penalties for dumping unwanted rabbits.

You can further help the UVic bunnies, by visiting the AAEVPC web site and making a tax deductible donation to help with transportation costs, and ongoing care and feeding costs of these adorable innocent creatures.

On behalf of the bunnies, thank you!

Visit http://www.tracs-bc.ca/uvicbun.html for more information.

Lia and the AAEVPC crew

A New Year

2011-01-13T12:10:00.000-08:00

Well, the year is starting off to be a busy one. We are sad to report that there are issues all across the country, and we are working on as many of them as possible. We will soon be uploading to our website a new Report to Members on the campaign work done in 2010.

Liz met with another person today who is interested in running as a candidate for the animals. She did this in between phone interviews from media interested in an elk issue in the Bancroft / North Hastings area in Ontario and the ongoing coyote issue in Ottawa.

Meanwhile, Morris (one of our wonderful volunteers) and I plugged away at the daily mail and getting receipts for our monthly donors ready to send out.

It's going to be a full house tomorrow with a number of other volunteers in to help with receipts. Thank you to all who make this important work speaking out for the animals possible.

Lia and the AAEVPC crew

Call to Future Candidates!

2010-12-15T06:55:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone!

I know people are thinking of a lot of things at this time of year, but we're preparing for the next election, whenever that may be. Just the other day, Liz and Karen met with a monthly donor who is interested in being a candidate. And Liz has talked to a number of other activists asking them to consider playing such a role, speaking out in a different forum for animals like little kitty Jane.

There are a number of time consuming requirements to meet in order to be a candidate, but it is worth it to then be able to canvass and to be invited to debates where animal issues can be discussed.

If anyone would like more information, please contact us today.

All the best to you and yours, including any non-human animals in your life.

Lia and the AAEVPC crew

Great News for the Seals!

2010-10-28T08:10:00.000-07:00

The European General Court has dismissed the application by the sealing lobby to suspend the prohibition of seal product trading pending the outcome of a court case.

This, hopefully, spells the beginning of the end of the commercial seal hunt in Canada, with the Federal government finally taking responsibility for a dying industry. Citizens on the East Coast deserve a better solution than putting their lives at risk to make a pittance by killing animals.

For more information, click on the link below to read the Humane Society International media release.

http://www.hsi.org/world/canada/news/releases/2010/10/seal_ban_suspension_dismissal_102810.html

Wolf Awareness Week

2010-10-18T06:52:00.000-07:00

A message from the Canadian Wolf Coalition (which we support):

WOLF AWARENESS WEEK is October 17 - 23.
For another year, the BC government will CONTINUE to sterilize and kill wolves as part of a pilot project for mountain caribou recovery, as the Environment Minister CONSIDERS shooting wolves from helicopters. Please take a moment to learn about the issues and become involved. Then spread the awareness.
On October 23rd - One Day Only - add YOUR voice to the growing opposition of predator control in BC through Earthroots' fax centre at http://earthroots.org/index.php/BC-Wolf-Fax-Action-Centre.html.
Before the date please visit http://earthroots.org/index.php/Eastern-Wolf-Fax-Action-Centre.html and show your support for increased protection of threatened Eastern wolves.
Two new bounty programs have been initiated in Alberta's High Prarie region for livestock purposes. Contact the town councilors of Big Lakes and Clear Hills municipal districts to let council members know that education about preventative practices would be better for livestock producers, taxpayers and wildlife over the long term. Address concerns to the executive secretary and Reeves of each county.
biglakes@mdbiglakes.ca
melissa@clearhillscounty.ab.ca

For more information, visit www.canadianwolfcoalition.com

Sable Island Seals

2010-09-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

On September 22, Liz and a number of others met with Parks Canada staff to discuss Sable Island. Present at the meeting were Barry Kent-McKay (Born Free Foundation), Rebecca Aldworth (Humane Society International Canada), David Lavigne (International Fund for Animal Welfare) and Bridget Curran (Atlantic Canadian Anti-Sealing Coalition).

After reviewing a number of documents, Animal Alliance presented a report to Parks Canada, all of which is available on-line at http://www.environmentvoters.org/Resources.html.

If you haven't already, please send a letter to the Honourable Gail Shea - we must make our elected officials understand that Sable Island must be left untouched. Personal letters are best but a sign-on letter is available to download, also at the above link.

From the Parks Canada website:

The following steps give an overview and outline of the expected sequence of events for Sable Island:

• Public consultations to secure public comment on the conservation, management and operational issues associated with the designation of Sable Island as a national park;

• Consultations with the Mi’kmaq and other key stakeholders;

• The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia would then negotiate any required park
establishment agreement;

• The federal government would then introduce legislation resulting in the legal designation of Sable Island as a national park of Canada;

• Parks Canada would then prepare a management plan, outlining key strategies and detailed objectives regarding ecological integrity, visitor experience and public education.

Elk Under Fire

2010-09-27T13:22:00.000-07:00

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) is proposing a hunt of a tiny population of 467 elk in the Bancroft/North Hastings area, not far from Algonquin Park.

Historically, elk were widespread across North America. But by the 1800s, human settlement and overhunting caused the eastern elk to be totally wiped out. The OMNR undertook an elk restoration programme and 10 years ago released 443 western elk from Elk Island National Park in Alberta to four locations in Ontario.

Of the 443, 104 were released in Lake of the Woods, 47 in Lake Huron North Shore, 172in Nipissing/French River and 120 in Bancroft/North Hastings. Only the Bancroft/North Hastings herds which have increased from 120 in 2000 to 467 in 2010 are under fire.

Because of intense pressure from hunting and agricultural interests, the OMNR staff are proposing a hunt of the tiny Bancroft/North Hastings elk population. OMNR staff argue that the Bancroft/North Hastings population can sustain a hunt, even though under any other circumstances these elk would be considered endangered. In addition, OMNR staff will consider allowing farmers to hire agents to shoot any elk who are damaging agricultural property.

Six notices, all pertaining to the management of these elk, are posted on the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) Registry. The deadline for comment on all six postings is October 14, 2010.

We need your help to stop this proposed hunt. Please click here for a sign-on letter to Minister Jeffrey and mail it as quickly as possible. The OMNR must protect the elk from the hunting lobby. The letter includes the EBR Numbers that apply to this issue. They need to be referenced so that your comments are taken into consideration by OMNR staff. If you wish to send in a hand written letter, please be sure to include all the EBR numbers.

Thank you for helping!

Liz, Lia and the AAEVPC crew

Sable Island Seals

2010-09-22T08:08:00.000-07:00

Well, things have been chugging along.

Our financial statements were submitted and have been accepted by Elections Canada. Statements for all federal parties can be viewed on-line on the Elections Canada website.

Liz (and representatives from a number of other animal protection groups) is in Halifax today, meeting with Parks Canada to discuss Sable Island. Sable Island is a beautiful crescent-shaped sandbar in the Atlantic Ocean, home to the largest grey seal population in the world and the renowned ‘Sable Island Ponies’, among other species.

The Federal government’s decision earlier this year to declare the island a National Park gives us the unique opportunity to ensure our input, regarding the Park’s policies, is heard. Policies must be progressive, allowing nature to evolve naturally, as it has for hundreds of years.

We have much work to do to protect the Island from Parks Canada’s recent history of killing as one of their primary means to parks management. If you haven’t already, please take a moment to read the October 2009 document prepared for Fisheries and Oceans Canada entitled "Logistical Evaluation of Options to Manage the Grey Seal Population on Sable Island". We must make our elected officials understand that Sable Island must be left untouched.

A Note from Senator Harb

2010-08-18T08:08:00.000-07:00

Dear Friend,

The 2010 commercial seal hunt has limped to end and I wanted to take a moment to share my latest speech in the Senate with you. Paste the following into your browser to access the text of this speech. http://www.parl.gc.ca/40/3/parlbus/chambus/senate/deb-E/038db_2010-06-15-e.htm?Language=E&Parl=40&Ses=3#62

The government has failed the people of Canada by refusing to accept that it is time to transition those involved in the commercial hunt into viable jobs with a future. The government’s lack of leadership has also caused considerable damage to the well-being of Canada’s Inuit and other indigenous hunters, and to Canada’s international reputation.

I encourage you to share this information with your friends and colleagues. And please continue to send me copies of any correspondence you have with MPs or Senators and we will add them to the more than 650,000 calls, emails and letters that we have received in support of efforts to end the commercial seal hunt.

I will continue to work hard to bring the government to account for its lack of leadership on this important issue in the hope that the 2010 hunt will go down in history as the last commercial seal hunt in this country.

Thanks for your continued support.

Senator Mac Harb

Cher ami,

La saison 2010 de chasse au phoque commerciale s’est terminée tant bien que mal et j’aimerais en profiter pour partager avec vous mon dernier discours au Sénat. Collez l'adresse suivante dans votre navigateur pour accéder au texte de ce discours. http://www.parl.gc.ca/40/3/parlbus/chambus/senate/deb-f/038db_2010-06-15-f.htm?Language=F&Parl=40&Ses=3#62

Le gouvernement a manqué à ses obligations envers le peuple canadien en refusant d’accepter qu’il soit maintenant temps d’amener les personnes participant à la chasse au phoque à effectuer la transition vers des emplois viables offrant des perspectives d’avenir. Le manque de leadership du gouvernement a également causé des dommages considérables au bien‑être des chasseurs inuits et d’autres peuples autochtones ainsi qu’à la réputation du Canada sur la scène internationale.

Je vous encourage à partager cette information avec vos amis et collègues. Veuillez continuer à m’envoyer copie de toute correspondance avec les députés et les sénateurs. Nous ajouterons vos envois aux 650 000 appels, courriels et lettres déjà reçus et qui nous appuient dans nos démarches pour que cesse la chasse au phoque commerciale.

Je continuerai à déployer tous les efforts nécessaires pour que le gouvernement reconnaisse son manque de leadership par rapport à cet enjeu important, dans l’espoir que la saison de chasse 2010 soit consacrée dans l’histoire comme la dernière chasse au phoque commerciale dans ce pays.

Je vous remercie de votre appui continu.

Le sénateur Mac Harb

A Note from Twyla

2010-07-16T13:55:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

Twyla Francois, Head of Investigation for Canadians for the Ethical Treatment of Food Animals (CETFA), recently sent out an e-mail about the Manitoba pig starvation case. In just 10 days, a petition created by a CETFA member received over 1,000 signatures internationally. The petition was forwarded to the Ministers of Agriculture and Justice and to the RCMP detachment assigned to the case, requesting a swift and severe prosecution of the offenders.

For more information about this case of cruelty and how you can help, please visit AAEVPC's "Resources" page and CETFA's website.

Thank you to all who are speaking out for the piglets!

Lia and the AAEVPC crew

Horror on Manitoba pig farm

2010-06-28T08:06:00.000-07:00

On Friday June 18, 2010, the Manitoba RCMP received a call about a case of neglected pigs. According to the news articles what the officers found was horrific.

Upon entering the farm, the officers found 500 pigs dead from starvation and neglect. Of the pigs that were still alive, reports of an additional 160 (actually 1600) had to be euthanized because they were in such bad shape and a further 2000 were removed from the property.

Despite the terribly cruelty and the enormous number of pigs who were left to suffer and die, the media coverage has been limited and comments by politician absent.

We are deeply concerned that this incident will be ignored by the politicians and law enforcement officers, or worse, be swept under the rug. We cannot allow this to happen.

So we need your help. We need the Government of Manitoba to investigate and lay charges against the individual who neglected these animals. Those who perpetrate cruelty to animals must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, or the neglect of these pigs will go unpunished.

Please click here to download and send sign-on letters, the first to Dr. Wayne Lees, Chief Veterinary Officer and the second to the Honourable Andrew Swan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

Please sign both letters and mail them to the appropriate person. Let us make sure that the Manitoba government seeks justice for these poor neglected animals.

Thank you for your help!

Liz White

Barn Fire horrors continue

2010-06-24T14:01:00.000-07:00

Since a coalition of groups began working on this issue over two years ago, little movement has been made by the federal government. We continue to demand that modifications be made to new and existing barns to protect humans and non-humans alike. With hundreds of thousands of animals dying horrifying deaths, it speaks volumes about our government's ethics and humanity.

All you have to do is visit Laurie Loveman's website on Fire Safety in Barns, and you'll get an idea about how pressing an issue this is in Canada. She keeps an extensive 'Fire Log' on fires throughout North America. Some other interesting resources are below.

Please contact your MP and MPP today and demand progressive, humane regulations.

For more information, visit the Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals.

***

From the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs:

Barn Fires - An Increasing Problem for Ontario Farmers: Questions and Answers to Barn Fires and Fires in Large Farm Structures

A recent headline: Manitoba barn fires kill 7500 pigs

Another headline: Fires in factory farms are taking a heavy toll

Sable Island Seals Under Fire

2010-06-07T15:13:00.001-07:00

We have been working with the Atlantic Canadian Anti-Sealing Coalition for some time now. The fight now is to save the seals on Sable Island, Canada's newest National Park.

The excerpt below is from the Coalition's website:

Just days after the government announced Sable Island is to be designated a national park, the government's macabre plans for the island have been revealed. The Coast newspaper obtained through an Access to Information request a document entitled 'Logistical Evaluation of Options to Manage the Grey Seal
Population on Sable Island.' Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans commissioned engineering firm CBCL to research and prepare a report setting out different scenarios for reducing the grey seal population on Sable Island. One of the options involves injecting 16,000 adult females with a form of contraceptive for five years. The other option involves a nightmare scenario of slaughtering 220,000 adults and pups period over a period of five years during their whelping (birthing, nursing and mating), slinging their carcasses using modified heavy loaders, and disposing of their bodies using modified wood chippers and portable incinerators set up on the island. One option details killing 100,000 adults and pups in 25 days in the first year, with 30,000 being slaughtered each year for the next four years. The report advises that any nursing whitecoats orphaned when their mothers are culled are to be killed immediately or they will starve to death. There will be MANY pups orphaned when their mothers are culled so it is inevitable that MANY whitecoats will be slaughtered during these so-called 'culls.'

For more information and to find out how you can help, please visit http://www.antisealingcoalition.ca/

Ending the seal slaughter

2010-05-17T07:15:00.000-07:00

Below is a link for an article by Rebecca Aldworth, executive director of Humane Society International/Canada (HSI). We have done a lot of work with HSI on this particular issue, and thanks to everyone's hard work and persistence, thanks to everyone sending in letters to the government, thanks to everyone calling and voicing their support for the seals, an end to Canada's commercial seal hunt may be in sight.

http://www.nationalpost.com/related/topics/story.html?id=3036245

We MUST keep working in order finally to reach a progressive and truly sustainable solution for the seals and the people of Newfoundland.

As many of you know, Liberal Senator Mac Harb made history by introducing a private member's bill on March 3rd, 2009, calling for an end to the commercial seal hunt. Senator Harb has re-introduced this bill, Bill S-207. A second senator, Conservative Senator Lowell Murray has seconded the bill, but it is still being prevented from being discussed in the House. Senator Harb has asked for help to flood Canada's Senate with messages of support.

Please, call and write the Senators, and urge them to do everything in their power to end the Canadian commercial seal hunt. Hand-written letters are best, but you can also print our sign-on letter by clicking here. Letters can be mailed postage-free to Senator Harb.

The Honourable Mac Harb

376 East BlockThe Senate of Canada

Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A4
Tel: 613-996-2379 / Fax: 613-996-2318
e-mail: harbsealbill@sen.parl.gc.ca

Cormorant Slaughter in Point Pelee

2010-05-03T07:01:00.000-07:00

First we would like to thank everyone who sent in declaration forms in order for us to maintain our party status. We received a great response and are sending in the forms to Elections Canada today. THANK YOU!!

On a sad note, the cormorant slaughter on Point Pelee's Middle Island has already claimed the lives of hundreds of birds. Liz and other activists are there, documenting the killing. For those who are not familiar with the issue, Cormorant Defenders International reports the following:

"The most significant threat to Double-crested cormorants are the very agencies charged with their protection. In Canada, those agencies are Point Pelee National Park & Parks Canada and Presqu'ile Provincial Park & the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR).
Parks Canada and the OMNR oversee three locations that are home to Ontario's largest cormorant colonies. Parks Canada controls Middle Island in Lake Erie, while the OMNR controls East Sister Island in Lake Erie and High Bluff Island in Lake Ontario.
Middle Island, a tiny speck of land in Lake Erie that became part of Point Pelee National Park in 2000, is threatened. A mass kill of the island's naturally occurring Double-crested cormorant population began in 2008 and will continue for a number of years. The plan to almost wipe out the birds on the island was scheduled to be in full swing in 2008, but a CDI legal challege in federal court delayed it considerably resulting in less than 250 birds being killed, instead of the many thousands that were originally targeted. CDI representatives observed the cull from boats positioned next to Middle Island and from a land-based station on neighbouring Pelee Island. In 2009, the cull resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,600 birds.
The park claims the kill is necessary to save Middle Island's vegetation, but changes to the composition of vegetation are part of the natural process of succession experienced wherever colonial birds are found. The cormorants pose no threat whatsoever to the survival of any plant or animal species and Middle Island is one of the few locations available where cormorants can colonize.
HELP CORMORANTS TODAY!
Raise this issue today with Environment Canada Minister Jim Prentice! Let him know that the slaughter of cormorants on Middle Island, part of Point Pelee National Park, must be stopped. Tell him cormorants are a part of the natural ecology of Middle Island and that it should be allowed to evolve in a natural way. Remind him that their is no way to humanely kill large numbers of birds in the field and that doing so is an archaic, destructive and cruel method of wildlife management that has no scientific or ecological justification.
Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment
Les Terrasses de la Chaudiere10 Wellington Street,
28th FloorGatineau, QC K1A 0H3
Fax: (819) 953-0279

Renew! Renew!

2010-03-26T13:22:00.000-07:00

Elections Canada has just sent us a notice: "To maintain its status, a registered or eligible political party must every 3 years provide the names, addresses and declarations of at least 250 electors who are members of the party". We are in the process of mailing declarations to our members.

If you'd like to sign a declaration, click on the following link, fill out the declaration form and mail it to the AAEVPC office (101 - 221 Broadview Avenue, Toronto, M4M 2G3)

http://www.elections.ca/pol/pol/EC20036_c.pdf

Thanks so much for allowing us to be able to continue speaking out for the animals. We couldn't do it without you!

With gratitude,
Lia and the AAEVPC crew

Seals saved!

2010-02-26T08:58:00.000-08:00

You may have already heard the GREAT NEWS!

The seal hunt that was set to take place on Hay Island has been called off! Thank you to everyone who helped save the seals!

Hay Island is part of the Scaterie Island Wilderness Conservation Area, just off Cape Breton. We had been lobbying the Nova Scotia Environment Minister, Sterling Belliveau. He amended the Wilderness Areas Protection Act (in a record 5 days!) to allow for the commercial killing of grey seal pups. The meetings we had left us feeling unsuccessful, the Minister telling us that there was no way he would call a moratorium - so this news has come as a pleasant surprise.

Click here for the full news article: http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=329896&sc=145

The quota this year was set for over 2,000 pups. For the past few years, this hunt has gone largely undetected, overshadowed by the larger commercial hunt on the Gulf of St. Lawrence and then at "the Front", the east side of Newfoundland. [In spite of there being little ice this year for the seals to whelp (meaning a high mortality rate for pups), hunts in the Gulf and on the Front are set to go ahead.]

The EU ban on seal product imports will have a tremendous impact on this year's hunt. But our work is not yet finished. The Canadian government has yet to act in a progressive and humane way to resolve the complex issue of the hunt, for the seals and for the citizens of the east coast who eek out a living by risking their lives for a few dollars. We must continue to speak out on behalf of the seals.

Every year for the past three years, the quota for animals killed has increased. The quota for 2010 is set to be announced mid-March.

Please let the Minister know that it's time to end Canada's shameful commercial seal hunt. For more information, visit http://www.hsicanada.ca/wildlife/seals/seal_hunt_2010/

The Honourable Gail Shea
House of Commons
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Parliament Buildings
Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1A 0A6
Min@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

With gratitude for your help,
Lia and the AAEVPC crew

Progress comes slow

2010-02-03T12:58:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the long absence. December and January were quite hectic months. Many people wanted to donate right at the end of the year to Project Jessie (and to make sure their donation was included in the 2009 calendar year). And now we're preparing to send out receipts to all our monthly donors. And all this means that our audit is right around the corner.

But enough about our administrative burdens! It is all done for the animals.

We have been swamped lately by a number of municipalities wanting to kill "overabundant" native species, including coyotes and deer. And the most recent disappointment has been the Nova Scotian NDP government allowing a commercial grey seal hunt on Hay Island (a part of the Scaterie Island Wilderness Conservation Area!), off Cape Breton. We have been to NS twice now, to no avail. Parks Canada and other government agencies continues to persecute wildlife, using their "scientists" to justify the indulgence they grant to hunters all across Canada.

On October 28, 2009, Alexandra Mendes, Liberal Member of Parliment for Brossard - La Prairie, tabled Bill C-468 to amend section 148 of the animal transportation regulations to bring them in line with transportation times enforced in the European Union. The bill was seconded by Frank Valeriot, Liberal Member of Parliment for Guelph, Ontario, and Alexander Atamanenko, NDP Member of Parliament for British Columbia Southern Interior. This was fantastic progress for farm animals, but now a the bill will have to be reintroduced in the next parliamentary session.

But to keep us positive, we are surrounded by happy beings, including Hannah, pictured above enjoying her time in our salad bowl! We still have had no inquiries about our FIV office fosters = ( They run wild here but they so deserve a home...perhaps, in time.

That's it for now. Thanks for reading!

Lia and the AAEVPC office crew

Another year...

2009-12-09T06:14:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that 2009 is coming to a close. This is a busy time of year for many people. And it seems like 2010 is filling up fast too!

Liz and our Chief Agent, Stephen Best, just returned from anther Elections Canada meeting of the Advisory Committee of Political Parties. The committee is chaired by the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. Marc Mayrand, and is "a forum to discuss administrative issues, and as an outreach mechanism to political parties." (http://www.elections.ca/). At this meeting the very important issues of auditing and identification and vouching rules were discussed.

All parties agreed that existing auditing requirements are excessive and unnecessary for parties with nil accounts. In the last federal election, if you recall, we had four candidates and the amount of reporting we had to do, considering how little we spent, was absolutely ridiculous. There were heaps of paper with zeros on them. Full audits for bank accounts with no money in them - silly is the only (clean) word that describes the current reporting process.

Identification and vouching rules are a more complicated issue. Currently, a voter with proper identification can vouch for only one other person. So, for example, if a family of four eligable voters moves to a new riding, and only one person has acceptable identification, only two out of the four voters can vote! The rules have become complicated because the larger parties are worried about voter fraud - in a country where no voter fraud has ever been recorded! Again, silly is the only (clean) word that describes the current voting process.

On top of these administrative issues, Liz will have to head out to Nova Scotia again to discuss the commercial seal hunt that takes place on Hay Island, a protected wilderness area no less! The seals are killed for their fur, to supply a dying industry. For more information, visit www.hsicanada.ca/wildlife/seals/. We'll let you know how the issue unfolds.

And Karen had an editorial on farm animal transport printed in the Guelph Mercury. Bill C-468 to amend the transport guidelines has passed first reading but is waiting to be introduced a second time. To read the article, visit http://news.guelphmercury.com/printArticle/571679. And for more information on how you can help, visit the Farm Animal Campaign section at http://www.animalalliance.ca/.

That's all for now.

Great News for Farm Animals!

2009-11-10T13:44:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Alexandra Mendès, Liberal Member of Parliament for Brossard - La Prairie, farm animals may soon get some long-overdue respect. On October 28, 2009, Ms Mendès tabled Bill C-468 to amend section 148 of the transportation of animals regulations. The bill was seconded by Frank Valeriote, Liberal Member of Parliament for Guelph, Ontario, and Alexander Atamanenko, NDP Member of Parliament for British Columbia Southern Interior (left, in photo). To date, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has not reduced the transport timelines. Along with the Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals, we continue to pressure the federal Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Gerry Ritz, to amend the transport timelines to a maximum of 8 hours (visit the "Farm Animals" campaign section at http://www.animalalliance.ca/ for more information).

As well, we're still in the middle of an enforcement complaint we submitted in order to protect cormorants on Middle Island, Point Pelee National Park. There will hopefully be a resolution in favour of the cormorants in the months to come.

And we continue to work to end the commercial seal hunt. On a separate but related note, Liz, unexpectedly, had to head out to Halifax to try to stop the commercial grey seal hunting on Hay Island - what is supposed to be a provincially protected wilderness area! Approximately 1,400 seals have been killed for their pelts, bashed on the head with bats and skinned with box-cutters. We believe the government has not met the requirements of the Wilderness Areas Protection Act in order to allow this activity. In spite of submissions from a number of groups, Bill 50 is to receive Royal Assent this week.

So some good news and some not so good news.

On a positive note, our office foster, Alice has gone to a wonderful home - yay! And we now have four FIV kittens tearing the office apart -- it's a wonder how anything gets done here = )

Update...

2009-09-03T13:53:00.000-07:00

Hi all, sorry for the long absence. We have been occupied by a number of our ongoing campaigns, including barn fires, cormorants, human / wildlife conflict, and of course, Project Jessie. And we had a major computer problem in July that took weeks to sort out. A stressfull time to say the least! So things were back up and running in August and after playing catch-up, we are finally back into our routine, which is anything BUT routine!

Our relatively new office foster, Alice, has been here for a month and is still adjusting to the life and noises of the office - although Bobby, our other foster is not making it easy for her! That's Picasso in the pic above - a special needs cat who we are trying to rehome. He used to be an outdoor cat who has learned to live indoors but is in desperate need of cat company. He's deaf and has a leg deformity but makes his way around just fine.

And with all this talk about polls and elections, we're preparing for the possibility of running candidates again, should our elected officials decide an election is necessary. We're hoping to run more candidates, so if you or anyone you know would be interested in representing AAEVPC, give us a call (416-462-9541).

That's it in a nutshell. I won't rant this time!

Great News for Seals!

2009-07-30T12:38:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness the European Union (EU) has more smarts and guts than their Canadian counterparts. For years, Canadians have demanded the commercial seal hunt end and for years we've been ignored. Not only has the EU listened to European constituents, but they've also dismissed Canada's efforts to make the commercial hunt appear humane. On July 27th, the EU voted in favour of banning the import of seal products.

Now the Canadian goverment wants to waste more tax dollars and more time appealing the EU vote to the World Trade Organization. I think they will find that the EU has dotted their 'i's and crossed their 't's. But in an effort to look good for their East Coast supporters, EVERY politician (save for the Honourable Senator Mac Harb) will continue to defend the hunt, in spite of economic analyses indicating that it would actually SAVE the government money simply to buy out the sealers' licences. But no, the government continues to ask its coastal citizens to risk their lives in dangerous weather conditions so they earn a few bucks.

It's time the goverment provide people with a real solution to East Coast unemployment.

It's time the goverment realize that times (and values) have changed.

It's time the goverment start listening to the majority of Canadians and end, once and for all, the Canadian Commercial Seal Hunt.

Over the next little while...

2009-06-26T07:42:00.000-07:00

We'll be continuing our fight for the cormorants. The killing is over for the year at Point Pelee National Park, with thousands of lives taken and thousands of birds disturbed by the shooting and human presence. Over and over we say it is so unfortunate that this magnificent native bird, which is just starting to rebound after decades of persecution by humans and death by DDT poisoning, is vilified instead of being celebrated. It is disappointing that our government feels the need to "manage" natural processes instead of sitting back and letting Mother Nature do what She does best.

I could go on, but I'll leave my rant at that and mention that we're preparing for a possible Fall Election. Yes, it's hard to believe but when one round of elections and reporting is over, we have to begin preparing for the next round! And our audits from last year haven't even been finalized by Elections Canada! Oh well, that's just how it is. In this next possible election, we'd like run 10 candidates -- 5 in B.C. and 5 in Southern Ontario. So anyone out there reading this, if you're in one of those areas and you think you might like to be a candidate, give us a call = )

On a sad note, our little office foster kitty, Shelly, had to be euthanized on the 19th. She had FIV AND mammary cancer. Her tumours grew rapidly, and on Friday one began to bleed. We had no choice but to spare her pain and discomfort and send her off to a better place. It was a really crappy way to end the week!

Rest in peace, baby girl.

Let the Cormorants Live!

2009-06-08T06:53:00.000-07:00

The Peaceful Parks Coalition launched their billboard campaign in Windsor, Ontario throughout the months of May and June as part of their ongoing public outreach campaign to protect the Double-crested Cormorant.

The billboard is located on Walker Road, just south of E.C. Row expressway, facing south onto northbound traffic. Windsor Ontario was chosen as the site of the first billboard because of its proximity to Point Pelee National Park, the site of a brutal killing program aimed at shooting thousands of nesting cormorants at Middle Island.

Middle Island is located in the middle of Lake Erie almost to the Ohio border, and is part of the greater Lake Erie Archipelago Islands. It is managed by Parks Canada, and is part of Point Pelee National Park.

East Sister Island, also located in the archipelago islands, is a nature reserve managed provincially by Ontario Parks. It too hosts a colony of nesting cormorants of national significance. In May, 2009 Ontario Parks announced they too are considering a killing program of nesting cormorants on East Sister Island through the release of the new East Sister Island Park Management Plan.

Ontario Parks has already shot over ten thousands nesting cormorants at High Bluff Island, Presqu’ile Provincial Park on Lake Ontario, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority applies harassment techniques to discourage any further expansion of the cormorant colony at Tommy Thompson Park, Toronto – currently the largest colonial water bird colony on the Great Lakes.

These government agencies work in tangent to ensure that all colonies of nesting cormorants across the southern Great Lakes are controlled leaving no place safe for these birds to nest and raise their young.

Please Take Action: visit http://www.peacefulparks.org/ppc/action_letthemlive.htm and learn how you can help protect Double-crested Cormorants in Ontario.

Peaceful Parks Coalition
P.O. 326, Station B
Toronto, Ontario M5T 2W2
1.877.785.8636
http://www.peacefulparks.org/
ppc@peacefulparks.org

EU bans seal product imports!

2009-05-05T13:29:00.000-07:00

We did it! On behalf of the seals, thank you so much for speaking out for them in the global effort to end the Canadian commercial seal hunt.

With the European Union banning the importation of seal products (with an exemption for the Inuit), this signals the beginning of the end for Canada’s commercial seal hunt. This is a major victory for the seals and the animal protection movement, but our work isn’t over yet. As many of you know, Liberal Senator Mac Harb made history by introducing a private members bill on March 3rd calling for an end to the Canadian commercial seal hunt. Senator Harb has asked for help to flood Canada's Senate with messages of support. We need another senator to second his bill so that the issue may be discussed in the House. Please, call and write the Senators, and urge them to do everything in their power to end the Canadian commercial seal hunt. Letters to the Senate may be mailed postage-free.

We continue to work hard on the Canadian Seafood Boycott, an additional important campaign to force our government to end the slaughter. The Humane Society of the United States, the Animal Protection Institute, and the World Society for the Protection of Animals are just some of the American organizations who have already joined the boycott. Now groups in Europe are also participating. Both American and European animal protection groups are important because the greatest economic impact of the boycott will be delivered in these two jurisdictions.

Thank you again for helping the seals!

Sincerely,
Liz White, Director

Update...

2009-04-22T08:33:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, sorry for the delay in writing! We have been busy with our audit (yes, it's STILL not finished) and with a number of other animal issues, which have been incredibly occupying.

Karen and I returned last night from an Elections Canada (EC) meeting held in Gatineau.

During the last federal election, Karen was excluded from a number of "all-candidates" debates. We sent in a complaint to EC that excluding a party from a debate was contrary to the law. EC disagreed. Once Karen raised the issue we learned we were not alone -- the other smaller parties had the same problem. We (the smaller parties) are all upset about this, all want change, and all want access to the public. I think it is evident, judging from increasing voter apathy, that people want more options. We're here! There are over 15 federally registered political parties! We just need to be allowed to be included. (This will be an on-going issue.)

We also met with the Broadcasting Arbitrator. All smaller parties voiced our concerns about the free airtime we receive during elections. Hopefully we will receive more airtime but will not know for a few weeks.

All in all, a good discussion but hopefully more productive next time.

Karen and I went to the EC meeting in place of Liz, who was in Point Pelee, documenting the cormorant killing by the park. Staff will be killing the native birds over the next few weeks, in the hopes of "protecting" the "species at risk on Middle Island". Protecting the cormorants has been a struggle for animal protection groups and incredibly disappointing since the species' population is now returning to natural numbers after years of persecution and death from DDT. Killing of native species is routine for the Ministry of Natural Resources, insisting that species must be "managed" (I guess Mother Nature isn't doing her job).

If anyone has made plans to visit Point Pelee, please consider boycotting the park until they allow native species to live unmanaged by humans!

For more information, visit http://www.zoocheck.com/cormorant

Progress for the Animals Being Made

2009-03-03T06:52:00.000-08:00

Below is an e-mail we received the other day with good news from Tel-Aviv -- the animals now have a voice in their municipal council! We have been in touch with Julian of Letet Lihyot for some time now, helping in any way we can. Their results are to be applauded. We must remember that when things seem bleak for the animals, there are good people out there, doing all that can be done to make this world more compassionate.

*****

Dear Liz,

Pursuant to our discussion last Thursday, please send me any pertinent information you may have with regard to Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Projects. Additionally, please find a short summary of the recent success achieved by “Latet Lihyot” in the Tel Aviv municipal elections held on the 11th of November 2008:

The founder of “Latet Lihyot” is advocate Reuven Ladianski, who up until recently served as the CEO and legal counsel for “Let the Animals Live”, the biggest and most well known non profit animal welfare society in Israel. Following years of imperviousness on the part of the authorities, Reuven decided that the time had come to try and make a change from within the system, since it has become clear that only that route of action will we able to make a significant improvement in animal rights issues in Israel. Therefore, he resigned his post at "Let the Animals Live", and founded the “Latet Lihyot” organization (* translated into Hebrew “Let Live” - written in Hebrew, it could also mean “Give to the Animals”), with the purpose of running in the 2008 Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipal elections.

The manifest of the “Latet Lihyot” organization contains various provisions based on, inter alia, the following principles: (1) the Promotion and enforcement of Animal Rights and welfare in Tel Aviv- Jaffa; (2) Educating people to love animals and protect the environment, with the emphasis on enlightening people as to the positive affects animals, and caring for animals, has on the lives of those that do so; and (3) Environmental issues and urban planning. With scarce funds, “Latet Lihyot” based its election efforts mainly on numerous volunteers who were willing to donate their time and expertise in an effort to raise awareness amongst animal lovers vis-à-vis the new party and what it stands for.

The campaign effort was promoted via numerous means such as distributing fliers all over Tel Aviv and utilizing the internet as much as possible, and also included various original methods of campaigning such as setting up “Latet Lihyot” water/food stands in and around the coffee shops of Tel Aviv for street cats and dogs and posters stuck upon the inside of trash bins but to name a few. Concurrently, Reuven assembled a list of well known, highly talented and experienced animal lovers from various walks of life who were willing to join him in the “Latet Lihyot” candidate list for the elections, including Prof. Orzion Bretna, amongst other things a university professor and prize winning author, Dr. Ronny Redo, an experienced zoologist and initiator of numerous animal related projects, Dafna Rechter, a well known actress and others. The willingness of those volunteers and candidates, along with the tireless efforts of Reuven and his close assistants, Jonathan Shpigel and Nofar Nohi, amongst others, were to pay great dividends.

The Tel Aviv municipal elections were held on the 11th of November, 2008 and after a massive effort by “Latet Lihyot” activists on the election day itself, the results were received with great excitement – “Latet Lihyot” had achieved its goal of making history – the first animal rights party in Israel to be elected to municipal government! Latet Lihyot received no less than 6,263 votes, constituting 4.51% of the total votes (!!!), and by doing so obtained one (1) of the thirty one (31) seats available on the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipal Counsel, therefore enabling Reuven to take his place on the city counsel. Indeed, “Latet Lihyot” were just 326 votes (!!!) short of obtaining a second seat. Since then, Reuven has joined the Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipal coalition and, in doing so, obtained numerous groundbreaking commitments from the Mayor of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Mr. Ron Holdai, in connection with the promotion of animal welfare projects in the city of Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Reuven has begun representing the animals of Tel Aviv-Jaffa on the city counsel and is currently exploring the feasibility of a number of potential projects that shall no doubt be initiated in the very near future.

On behalf of “latet Lihyot”, I wish to thank you for all your help during the election period and hope to cooperate with you further in the future.

Best regards,

Julian

Guelph by-law approved!!!

2009-01-13T12:29:00.001-08:00

Wow, it's been a long time since we've posted an update...it's been unbelieveable busy and time has just flown by.

We've been occupied with preparing receipts for our monthly donors; approximately 800 receipts have to be entered then checked and double-checked before being mailed out. Liz is busily writing personal "thank you" notes, something which is time-consuming but necessary nonetheless. It's nice for all of us to sit around our big work table and chat while getting this mailing out the door. It doesn't happen often that we work like that so we're enjoying it.

We're still waiting for our audits to be approved by Elections Canada. So far they have approved our General Election Campaign submissions for Simon, Karen, and Liz. We're still waiting for approval for Marie's campaign and for Karen's by-election campaign. And we're gearing up for our annual party audit, which should take place in March or April.

The trapping by-law that went before Guelph council on December 22nd was unanimously approved. Guelph is the first city in Canada to have approved a by-law that will ban trapping within city limits! Thanks to Liz and Karen humans and non-humans alike are much safer in Guelph.

And more good news: the kittens, Coco (see pic below) and Cleo, were adopted! Yay!

In a Nutshell...

2008-11-26T08:51:00.000-08:00

We had an officer's meeting last night and here are a few points that were discussed:

1) Liz reported on trapping. For those who don't know, we became involved in Guelph in 2005 on a trapping issue when a dog was killed in a trap. After several consultations, a by-law in Guelph is going before the committee on December 3rd and before council on the 22nd. Hopefully there will be little to no opposition, so we’ll be able to use this as a model for other municipalities.

2) Karen reported that Gail Shea, the new Fisheries Minister, is not going to change anything about the seal hunt. The European Union has a partial ban but are trying to get a full ban. The Canadian Seafood Boycott campaign continues.

3) We are considering a party name change. Any and all suggestions are still welcome.

4) And we're pretty much done with all our audits.

There seems to be great interest in the Party, a major step in the right direction for non-human animals. Politicians in the U.S. are vocal about animal issues, so it is our job to force these same issues onto the Canadian political radar. The voiceless are depending on us, and we must not let them down.

Btw, that's Coco, the newest addition to our foster family here at the office. I thought I would end on a positive note = )

The Latest...

2008-10-30T11:13:00.000-07:00

So we're beginning to get back into the swing of things after all the election excitement.

We had an officers' meeting last week and talks covered several key campaigns: 1) The Canadian Seafood Boycott is still doing well in the States. There are more grocers signing on and over 100 restaurants in D.C. alone; 2) The trapping by-law is moving ahead in Guelph and looks quite good; 3) The horse slaughter issue is hitting snags in the government regulatory bodies so we're strategizing about how to have the laws enforced; and 4) We're changing our party name (any suggestions are welcome).

And while all that is going on, we're preparing for five, yes FIVE, audits (one for each candidate and an extra for the Guelph by-election). And after those are done we get to look foward to yet another audit for the party in the new year. I think it's because we're only a few years old that this seems like a big ordeal; hopefully it'll become easier as we become more accustomed to these kinds of obligations. But if you're not careful, the mounds of paperwork can bury you!

It's well worth all the headache, though, if it means the animals and the environment benefit. We're making strides, small ones admittedly, but strides nonetheless. That's how change begins, and we're honoured to be part of the peaceful revolution.

The Results are in!

2008-10-15T07:51:00.000-07:00

In spite of such a low voter turnout, the AAEV Party of Canada made great strides!

Karen Levenson (Guelph) received 73 votes, beating the Marxist-Leninists, the Communists and an Independent.

Simon Luisi (Davenport) received 92 votes, a great result for his first run as a candidate!

Marie Crawford (Toronto-Danforth) received 177 votes, closing in on Liz's result of 187 votes.

Thanks to your continued help, all of our candidates were able to raise animal and environmental protection issues at candidates’ debates in their respective ridings. Throughout everyone’s canvassing, and in response to our radio ads and other media, we heard over and over again that voters were thankful for being able to vote their conscience. No other political party would have talked about the importance of animal protection had it not been for our candidates. Thanks to your support and their voices, the animals were heard.

And even thought the election is over, we hope that you all will still contact your MPs and ask them what they are doing to protect the environment, to end animal cruelty, to battle climate change, and to stop the killing of young seals. Please speak out as we all continue to make animal cruelty a thing of the past.

And stay tuned as we get back into the swing of things!

Upcoming events

2008-09-30T13:44:00.000-07:00

So everyone's campaigns are up and running! Supporters are calling from all over, asking if we have candidates in their ridings. I wish I could tell them that we have more than four since it's becoming more clear that voters are eager to make changes. Perhaps next time some of you might consider being a candidate -- don't be shy! The animals need as many voices as possible speaking out on their behalf.

Simon will be at 1900 Davenport tonight -- the debate starts at 7 pm.

This Saturday in the National Post's "Toronto" section, there will be a story on Liz and the party. Liz has done several interviews, with mainstream, alternative and student media about animal cruelty and made sure the importance of legislative change and participating in politics was raised.

Politicians keep saying animals must be protected from cruelty, but so far, it's a whole lot of talk and no action. We must take action! Please, attend candidates' meetings and press the importance of honouring a principle of just and equitable human progress -- progress that respects, protects, and enhances the environment and the lives of the animals with whom we share the world. Please speak up for those with no voice.

Vote for Compassion!

2008-09-26T12:29:00.000-07:00

Yes, we are, in fact, North America's only animal protection political party. And this time around we have four candidates running!

Before the general election was called, our colleague in Guelph, Karen Levenson, was running in the local by-election. At the debates she pressured the other candidates to take a position on the seal hunt, a controversial subject no one would have touched had it not been for Karen's presence and persistence. Even though it was cut short, Karen's first time as a candidate was a success in our books. She gave the animals a voice -- job well done, Karen!

Now we have Liz running in Toronto Centre and Karen in Guelph again, Marie Crawford in Toronto-Danforth, and Simon Luisi in Davenport. Simon, a long-time supporter and activist, is the first male candidate to represent the animals in Canada. This is an exciting time, and for those in the ridings in which we are running, we hope we can count on your vote and your voice for the animals.We must force politicians to address and improve the lives of animals. From our antiquated anti-cruelty laws to farm animal transport times to the largest marine mammal slaughter in the world, we must make these issues a focus during the election campaigning. So speak up! Politicians will not draft better animal protection laws voluntarily -- it is OUR job to make sure they do. We must frame the debate with OUR values -- respect, non-violence and compassion. Speak up! Ask the candidates in your riding what they are doing to make this world a better place for future generations. At this rate, they will be left with dead oceans, unbreathable air and barren land. Speak up! And help the compassionate revolution happen.