Green Party Denounces China Seal Deal
OTTAWA - The Green Party today denounced the desperate and expensive efforts by the Canadian government to push Canadian seal products on China. In an attempt to open up a new market for products that most countries have already rejected, the Canadian government has announced a trade agreement with China that would see China temporarily lift an import ban on seal meat and oil.
"It's time for Canada to stop burning through taxpayer's dollars in a futile attempt to prop up the dying commercial seal hunt," said Deputy Leader Georges Laraque. "There is no domestic market for seal fur or meat, and countries around the world have closed their borders to seal products due to the cruelty and waste involved in commercial sealing. Over 40 civil society groups in China have mobilized against the trade in seal products, and it is likely that Chinese consumers will also reject these products when they learn more about their origin. Instead of wasting money trying to push seal products on the rest of the world, Canada should buy out sealing licenses and end the commercial kill."
The value of the seal hunt has been steadily declining. The total value of the Newfoundland commercial seal kill in 2009 and 2010 was just over $2 million. Meanwhile, government figures reveal that it subsidies to the hunt over this same time period totaled over $9 million. Yet despite meager earnings from killing seals, Canada has also launched a formal challenge of the European Union ban on seal products through the World Trade Organization, which is expected to cost well over $10 million. Canada has also provided hefty subsidies to numerous fur and sealing institutes to assist them in finding new markets for seal products, including $325,253 to the Seal Marketing Institute to promote the hunt in Asia and Russia.
"The seal hunt is a stain on Canada's international reputation that we can no longer afford," said Leader Elizabeth May. "Coastal communities could earn far more income from sustainable seal watching activities, rather than unsustainable seal killing. It's time to stop subsidizing the kill, and instead provide a generous buy out package to sealing communities and support ecotourism initiatives."
Seal hunt observers document Fisheries Act violations each year during the commercial kill, as well as many violations of the few sealing regulations that do exist. The Green Party is the only federal political party that would end commercial sealing.
Contact Information:
Debra Eindiguer
Press Secretary
Green Party of Canada
media@greenparty.ca
c: 613.614.4916
