Key Takeaways:
- Animal Justice launched ads at Ottawa International Airport featuring photos of horses packed into wooden crates, calling for an end to Canada’s live horse export trade.
- Despite the Liberal Party’s promise over five years ago to end live horse exports for slaughter, more than 12,500 horses have been shipped and slaughtered overseas.
- During the last federal election, the Liberals candidates committed to fulfilling their promise to end live horse exports if re-elected.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney and Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald can stop the trade by updating federal regulations.
- Horses endure gruelling journeys in wooden crates, legally lasting up to 28 hours without food, water, or rest, leading to severe stress, injuries, and even death.
New ads at Ottawa International Airport are calling on Canada to END the live export of horses for slaughter.
Ads by Animal Justice show horses packed into wooden crates, moments before being loaded onto an aircraft and flown overseas.
More than five years ago, the Liberal Party promised to ban live horse exports. But that promise remains unfulfilled, and more than 12,500 horses have been killed in the trade since then. During the last federal election, Liberal candidates confirmed that if re-elected the Party would fulfill its long overdue promise to Canadians.
This cruel and unnecessary industry could be stopped by simply changing the regulations. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald have the power to make that change now.
What Is the Canadian Live Horse Export Industry?
Every year, thousands of horses are shipped from Canada to Japan under gruelling conditions. They are shipped live so that they can be fattened, slaughtered, and served as a raw-meat delicacy.
Before departure, horses are confined in feedlots in Alberta and Manitoba to be fattened before being trucked to airports in Edmonton and Winnipeg. At the airport, they are forced into crowded wooden crates and loaded onto cargo planes. These animals receive minimal protection under Canadian law, which allows horses to travel for up to 28 hours without any food, water, or rest. Investigations by Animal Justice and Japan-based Life Investigation Agency have repeatedly shown that the shipments regularly exceed this legal limit.
This is particularly concerning because horses are grazing animals whose digestive systems are adapted to near-continuous access to food. Prolonged periods without food cause severe physical stress and can lead to rapid, highly destructive changes within their stomach and digestive tract. Government of Japan records show that horses exported for slaughter are so severely dehydrated that some even die as a result, with others dying of stress from transport, injuries, “shipping fever,” and even painful miscarriages.
The Liberal Party Promised to Ban Live Horse Exports
For years, the Liberal Party has failed to deliver on its promise to end live horse exports. With most Canadians supporting a ban, the public has continued to call on the government to honour its commitment and put an end to this cruel industry.
The closest the government has been to a ban was in 2023 when Bill C-355 was introduced by Liberal MP Tim Louis to ban live horse exports. It passed the House of Commons in 2024, but stalled in the Senate and later died when the election was called in 2025. During the last federal election, the Liberals promised that if re-elected the new government would fulfill this important promise to Canadians.
By simply changing the regulations, Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald and Prime Minister Mark Carney can decisively put an end to this cruel industry immediately.
Take Action: Tell the Government to Ban Live Horse Exports
Horses deserve better than fear and suffering in the live export trade.
Demand swift action to protect these animals. The government has promised to ban live horse exports—it’s time to make that promise a reality.
Banner: Ads feature horse image from Canadian Horse Defence Coalition
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why are there ads calling to ban live horse exports in Ottawa?
Animal Justice launched ads at Ottawa Airport to highlight the ongoing live horse export trade and push Prime Minister Mark Carney and Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald to fulfill the government’s long-standing promise to ban this cruel practice.
What is the Canadian live horse export industry?
The Canadian live horse export industry involves the live shipment of thousands of horses from Canada to Japan, where they are slaughtered and eaten as delicacies in high-end restaurants.
Why does Canada ship live horses to Japan?
Canada exports live horses to Japan to supply a luxury raw horsemeat delicacy. Buyers prefer importing live horses so they can be fattened locally before slaughter, ensuring maximum freshness, but the result is brutal suffering in transport.
Why hasn’t Canada banned live horse exports yet?
Although a ban was promised over five years ago and Bill C-355 passed the House of Commons in 2024, the bill stalled in the Senate before the election. However, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald can halt the trade simply by updating regulations.
How are horses treated during live export shipments?
Horses face severe physical and psychological stress during export. They are sent in loads of 99 or more horses, with 3-4 animals crowded into small wooden crates and flown in cargo planes. Under Canadian law, horses can go up to 28 hours without food, water, or rest—conditions that trigger serious digestive disorders and extreme anxiety in grazing animals. Injuries and death are common.
