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Sustainable
eNews |
September 2003 |
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IWMC
World Conservation Trust |
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Canada's
Legislature debates
Human vs Animal Rights
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A very basic test of human rights, common sense, and
conservation principles is being played out in Canada right now, both in
the House of Commons and in the Senate. Bill C10B concerns the rights of
people to kill animals for any reason. The proposed legislation has gone
back and forth between the Senate (whose members are appointed for life)
and the House of Commons. Discussions have ranged from the rights of
aboriginal peoples to conduct their traditional hunting and fishing
activities, to other rural people and those who wish to enter the
countryside and hunt for recreational purposes. The latter is a business of
considerable economic and conservation importance in Canada, as elsewhere.
The bill is about the rights of people to kill animals. It is part of an
underlying agenda that has little or nothing to do with concern for animal
welfare, human health, or conservation measures.
Senate amendments to the House bill have caused different versions of
the legislation to pass between houses more than several times in recent
months. At present, those who are concerned with the future of the rights
of people to kill animals are convinced that a core of animal rights
activists in the Justice Department and the House of Commons is determined
to see this through as a test case for permanent prohibition, a victory for
a power hungry minority. A wider concern is that this shall eventually not
be confined to Canada, but may provide a model for similar legislation in
the United States, whose animal rights leaders are alleged to be the
economic force behind this Canadian initiative.
The disastrous potential consequences of such legislation include
nutritional, social, psychological, and economic upheaval, to say nothing
of the environmental impacts of such a stupid national decision. Yet,
Canada beware. Never say "It can't happen here", but rather,
become personally involved in communicating public opinion to the Senators
and MEPs who are toying incessantly with this concept.
The bill is not about cruelty to animals. It is about the freedom,
health and welfare of the people and the environment of Canada, and their
right to live life as usual without being forced to become vegetarians.
IWMC urges all Canadians to watch the process very closely, and not to
trust that the system is necessarily working in their best interests.
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