New bus shelter ads in downtown Ottawa are calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney and Agriculture Minister Heath Macdonald to finally end the cruel practice of live horse exports.
These advertisements depict both politicians in capes, highlighting their unique power to stop the suffering of thousands of horses. The superhero imagery contrasts sharply with a depiction of a horse suffering in a wooden crate—stating that the Liberals promised to end this cruelty over four years ago.
Despite the Liberal Party’s 2021 campaign pledge to ban live horse exports, the industry persists, and over 11,000 horses have been shipped to their deaths since that promise was made.
The Horrifying Journey Endured By Canada’s Exported Horses
The vast majority of Canadians support a live horse export ban. Yet, thousands of horses are still forced to endure the horrific journey to Japan every year, where they are fattened, slaughtered, and sold in restaurants as a raw delicacy for the wealthy.
Horses are first trucked from feedlots in rural Alberta and Manitoba to airports in Edmonton and Winnipeg. At the airports, workers force them into cramped wooden crates, often three to four at a time.
The long and arduous journey typically takes more than 24 hours. Canadian law mandates that horses require water, food, or rest after a gruelling 28 hours of travel. However, many live horse export shipments go over the legal time limit for travel.
Some of the physical and psychological harms endured by the horses include:
- Severe hunger and dehydration
- Extreme fatigue and mental distress
- Devastating falls and fatal injuries
Momentum to Ban Live Horse Exports
In the last Parliament, Bill C-355 was introduced by Liberal MP Tim Louis to ban live horse exports and make good on his party’s promise to Canadians. It passed the House of Commons in 2024, but stalled in the Senate due to Conservative Senators’ procedural delay tactics. It died when the election was called in 2025.
There were two animal welfare-focused election debates during the 2025 election—one focused nationally and the other in Manitoba—and during both debates, the Liberal candidates confirmed that the Liberal Party remained committed to banning the export of horses for slaughter if re-elected. Liberal Party candidates confirmed the promise to voters in many ridings as well.
During this Parliament, a nationwide protest has taken place, and hundreds of MPs have had their constituents reach out to request meetings about banning the practice.
Canadians from coast to coast are calling on the Liberal government to keep its promise to ban the practice, which can be done as simply as changing existing regulations.
The fate of these animals now rests firmly on the shoulders of Prime Minister Mark Carney and Agriculture Minister Heath Macdonald.
By fulfilling the promise their party made in 2021, and reiterated in 2023 and 2025, these political leaders can decisively end the national shame of live horse exports.
Take Action: Tell the Liberal Party to Uphold Their Promise
Together with Canadians across the country, Animal Justice will continue to fight for horses to be protected from cruelty in the live export trade.
Join us in our mission to protect these animals from further unjustifiable suffering in this cruel industry.
Contact your MP, and tell Prime Minister Mark Carney and Agriculture Minister Heath Macdonald to uphold their party’s promise to ban live horse exports.
