Dear Mr Weston:
I'm writing to ask you to support a ban on the harp seal hunt. It is cruel. It tarnishes Canada's image on the world stage. It does not improve fish stocks. And polls (like the Environics Research Group poll for IFAW in 2010) have shown that the majority of Canadians are opposed to it and 79 per cent approved of using tax dollars to transition sealers into other industries. An Ipsos Reid poll in 2010 showed that 50 per cent of Newfoundland sealers also support a sealing industry buyout.
The fact that New-foundland provided Carino Processing with a loan of two million tax dollars in 2012, so they could buy seal products, makes clear that the hunt is not being maintained for economic reasons. Seals as young as 11 days old (98 per cent are less than three months old), which lack the mobility to escape, are bludgeoned with primitive tools, and their pelts are sold for nominal amounts. In 2011, the going rate was $25 a pelt. Last year 69,000 seals were killed. That's a total value of less than $1.75 million. So the loans subsidies were more than the value of the pelts. Clearly, this hunt does not provide economic value.
Mr. Weston, I'm asking you and your Conservative colleagues to ban the harp seal hunt this year. This would be both in keeping with your stated goals of using tax money wisely and consistent with Mr. Harper's support for animal adoption. Harp seal pups deserve the same protection from cruelty, and the opportunity to grow to adulthood, that kittens and puppies do.
Alison Taylor
Halfmoon Bay
