Replace Seal Hunt Policies
Preamble
WHEREAS extensive international effort by special interest groups have portrayed the Canadian seal hunts as inhumane, dismiss the majority of peer reviewed publications, and emphasize few favourable or misleading sources available (a dicto simpliciter ad dictum secundum quid);
WHEREAS popular sentiment favours conclusions which do not reflect circumstances (argumentum ad populum);
WHEREAS officials from the Canadian Audubon Society, Canadian Council on Animal Care, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, International Society for the Protection of Animals, Ontario Federation of Humane Societies, Royal Commission on Seals and the Sealing Industry in Canada, University of Guelph, University of Ottawa, et al, have concluded the hunt is humane;
WHEREAS the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Science Advisory Report 2011/050, estimates the 2010 population of Northwest Atlantic harp seals at 8.61- 9.55 million;
WHEREAS the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Fish Landings and Landed Values, for all vessels in 2011 reports quantities of seal products landed were: 35 902 skins, 16 205 flipper, and 127 metric tons of meat/fur;
WHEREAS seal products provide food and clothing free from the use of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, growth hormones, non-therapeutic antibiotics and insecticides, in a manor allowing animals to live without undue stress and in conditions where they are able to exercise normal behaviours; and
WHEREAS the Green Party of Canada may improve on existing conditions to create an industry suitable as a model for ecologically friendly and secure practices rather than contribute unfairly to its end
Operative
BE IT RESOLVED that all existing seal hunt policies be rescinded, including: G08-p109, 2004 – Commercial Seal Hunt, 2004 – Seal Hunt, G02-p4;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that “remove federal subsidies from the fur and sealing industries” be removed from G08-p105; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Green Party of Canada work to ensure the continuation of Canadian seal hunts including ending bans, develop new markets and products to promote no wastage, and issue a formal statement to announce the resolutions herein.
Background
Current policies promote an end to the Canadian seal hunt and have contributed to social and economic losses for Canadians. The Green Party of Canada is not against hunting and recognizes and encourages the use of animals for food as well as products. WHEREAS the conditions of the seal hunt are generally misunderstood, these policies were adopted and are contrary to treatment of other industries and regions.
The policies of the Party--in agreement with the Charter of the Global Greens--are founded upon the Principals which include ecological wisdom, social justice, participatory democracy, sustainability and respect for diversity. We acknowledge that human beings are part of the natural world and that society depends on the ecological resources of the planet.
Respondents in Newfoundland and Labrador to an informal survey of members both current and expired as well as volunteers was unanimous that the party must rescind all existing policy, and work to promote the Canadian seal hunts as natural, traditional, and ecologically sustainable practices.
The Bloc Québécois, Conservative Party of Canada, Liberal Party of Canada, and New Democratic Party of Canada officially support the Canadian seal hunts. Supporters of the Green Party of Canada would not be likely to support other parties in objection to this policy. Since support for the Party in Atlantic and Northern regions is very low and many former members have cited existing policy, it is likely that a rational approach to the seal hunt will both attract new members as well as demonstrate our capacity to serve in fairness as the official Government of Canada.
There are no significant cost/revenue implications anticipated.
Code
Proposal Type
Submitter Name
Party Commentary
If adopted, this motion will rescind all of the party’s seal hunt policies and call for the federal government to actively expand the market for Canadian seal products.
Preamble
WHEREAS extensive international effort by special interest groups have portrayed the Canadian seal hunts as inhumane, dismiss the majority of peer reviewed publications, and emphasize few favourable or misleading sources available (a dicto simpliciter ad dictum secundum quid);
WHEREAS popular sentiment favours conclusions which do not reflect circumstances (argumentum ad populum);
WHEREAS officials from the Canadian Audubon Society, Canadian Council on Animal Care, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, International Society for the Protection of Animals, Ontario Federation of Humane Societies, Royal Commission on Seals and the Sealing Industry in Canada, University of Guelph, University of Ottawa, et al, have concluded the hunt is humane;
WHEREAS the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Science Advisory Report 2011/050, estimates the 2010 population of Northwest Atlantic harp seals at 8.61- 9.55 million;
WHEREAS the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Fish Landings and Landed Values, for all vessels in 2011 reports quantities of seal products landed were: 35 902 skins, 16 205 flipper, and 127 metric tons of meat/fur;
WHEREAS seal products provide food and clothing free from the use of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, growth hormones, non-therapeutic antibiotics and insecticides, in a manor allowing animals to live without undue stress and in conditions where they are able to exercise normal behaviours; and
WHEREAS the Green Party of Canada may improve on existing conditions to create an industry suitable as a model for ecologically friendly and secure practices rather than contribute unfairly to its end
Operative
BE IT RESOLVED that all existing seal hunt policies be rescinded, including: G08-p109, 2004 – Commercial Seal Hunt, 2004 – Seal Hunt, G02-p4;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that “remove federal subsidies from the fur and sealing industries” be removed from G08-p105; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Green Party of Canada work to ensure the continuation of Canadian seal hunts including ending bans, develop new markets and products to promote no wastage, and issue a formal statement to announce the resolutions herein.
Sponsors
Background
Current policies promote an end to the Canadian seal hunt and have contributed to social and economic losses for Canadians. The Green Party of Canada is not against hunting and recognizes and encourages the use of animals for food as well as products. WHEREAS the conditions of the seal hunt are generally misunderstood, these policies were adopted and are contrary to treatment of other industries and regions.
The policies of the Party--in agreement with the Charter of the Global Greens--are founded upon the Principals which include ecological wisdom, social justice, participatory democracy, sustainability and respect for diversity. We acknowledge that human beings are part of the natural world and that society depends on the ecological resources of the planet.
Respondents in Newfoundland and Labrador to an informal survey of members both current and expired as well as volunteers was unanimous that the party must rescind all existing policy, and work to promote the Canadian seal hunts as natural, traditional, and ecologically sustainable practices.
The Bloc Québécois, Conservative Party of Canada, Liberal Party of Canada, and New Democratic Party of Canada officially support the Canadian seal hunts. Supporters of the Green Party of Canada would not be likely to support other parties in objection to this policy. Since support for the Party in Atlantic and Northern regions is very low and many former members have cited existing policy, it is likely that a rational approach to the seal hunt will both attract new members as well as demonstrate our capacity to serve in fairness as the official Government of Canada.
There are no significant cost/revenue implications anticipated.
Party Commentary
If adopted, this motion will rescind all of the party’s seal hunt policies and call for the federal government to actively expand the market for Canadian seal products.