On December 16, Canadians across the country came together for a peaceful candlelight vigil to honour the thousands of horses who have suffered and died since the Liberal government’s promise to end live horse exports for slaughter was included in the Agriculture Minister’s mandate letter.
Despite the Liberal Party’s 2021 pledge, more than 10,700 Canadian horses were shipped on gruelling long-haul flights to Japan. Many arrived injured, dehydrated, or deeply stressed. Some never made it off the planes alive. Horses regularly died during transport or in the days that followed, victims of untreated injuries, extreme exhaustion, and even tragic miscarriages.
11 coordinated vigils were hosted across Canada by Animal Justice, the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition, Humane World for Animals Canada, and local partners. In Montreal, the demonstration was also attended by BESA, Galahad, Anonymous for the Voiceless, Oréade and the Montreal SPCA. The Winnipeg demonstration was organized in collaboration with Winnipeg Animal Save and the Charlottetown demonstration was organized in collaboration with Atlantic Canada Animal Advocacy.
We’re grateful to singer-songwriter Jann Arden for helping promote the event, and for being a long-time activist against the live export of horses. She is one of the Canadian icons who recently signed a joint letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald, urging them to finally follow through on their promise to stop live horse exports.
The vigils included speeches, moments of silence, poetry, and memorial spaces in each city. Attendees laid down flowers, carrots, horseshoes, and photographs of horses. Some participants were in tears, while others pledged to get more active, contacting their MPs and asking them to raise the issue with the Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister. Together, Canadians honoured the horses whose lives were stolen and made sure their suffering was not forgotten.
Media networks present and links to coverage:
- CTV Edmonton
- Edmonton Journal
- CTV Calgary (video here)
- CTV Atlantic / Halifax
- CTV Vancouver
- CBC Radio / Ottawa
What Do Prime Minister Mark Carney & Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald Need to Do?
The fastest way to end live horse exports is to amend the Health of Animals regulations. By simply changing the existing laws, the Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister can ban this industry without having to introduce a bill—which could take years moving through the legislative process.
Take Action Now
- Email Prime Minister Mark Carney and Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald and ask them to ban live horse exports through regulations.
- CC your local Member of Parliament to make sure your voice is heard.
Canadians will not stop speaking up until this cruel practice ends.
Banner: Hailey Oldfield
