National Seal Products Day Bill

Honourable senators, I am pleased to rise in support of Bill S-208, An Act respecting National Seal Products Day. As my esteemed colleague Senator Maltais so correctly stated in the chamber last week, by having a national seal products day, we are paying homage to an important industry that many Canadians quite rightly rely upon.

The bill will designate May 20 as national seal products day. The seal hunt generally takes place from late March to mid-May. I am pleased to see that Senator Hervieux-Payette has incorporated last session's Fisheries and Oceans Committee's amendments to her previous bill. I and other members of that committee felt that removing "and seafood products day" would bring greater significance and would highlight the importance of the seal industry.

This designation is much more than symbolic. It's a rallying point to defend our traditions and our industries.

It's crucial to promote Canada's sustainable humane seal hunt and to defend this important way of life for our coastal Canadians. In Budget 2015, the previous government's allocation of $5.7 million over five years to help secure new market access for Canadian products was seen as an important step.

For Canada, sealing is more than about fur. It is a way of life for thousands of families and an activity of great importance to the people of the Atlantic provinces, Quebec and the North, as well as to my colleagues Senator Patterson, Senator Watt, Senator Baker — I wasn't aware he had spent time on the ice — and me.

As Senator Patterson just pointed out, this is as much a cultural activity as it is an economic one. In other words, seal harvesting is not a hobby or a pastime; it has deep roots in the cultures of the North, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, and it continues to contribute to their communities, both culturally and economically.

No part of the animal goes to waste. The meat is prized for its high protein and taste, while the skin is used to make warm waterproof boots, mitts, coats and hats. Artisans also use sealskin to make arts and crafts for the tourism industry, and the oil is processed into important nutritional and health products.

The principle of sustainable use entails full utilization of the seal. It's important to support a sustainable, humane seal hunt and continue to encourage the full use of the seal. We should tell the facts about sealing and the effects of seal populations on marine ecosystems to combat misleading attacks on the hunt from radical animal-rights activists.

As Canadians, we should not shy away from defending the interests of legitimate sustainable and lawful activities of any industry against misinformation campaigns — campaigns that are entirely focused on fundraising. I respect the right of organizations and individuals to voice their opposition to the seal harvest, but I do not condone the spread of lies and misinformation about the humaneness and sustainability of Canada's seal harvest. Animal-rights groups often use charged imagery to elicit emotional responses. The reality is quite different. Sealers are highly trained and prosecute the hunt responsibly and with respect for the rules and regulations. Further, it is unacceptable and inexcusable to punish the Canadian seal-sector workers based on this information.

The Canadian seal harvest is clearly sustainable. The overall Atlantic seal population, including harp seals, grey seals and hood seals, is healthy and abundant. The harp seal biomass is currently estimated at 7.5 million animals, which is over three times what it was in the 1970s. The exponential growth of seal populations is having a severe effect on Canadian fish stocks. In the Gulf of St. Lawrence, an exploding grey seal population is responsible for almost half the mortality of adult cod, according to DFO and independent science.

The notion that there is no demand for Canadian seal products is not accurate. There is global demand for seal products. Between 2004 and 2010, Canada exported over $70 million worth of seal products to more than 35 countries, including seal pelts, value- added garments and edible products.

The seal harvest in Atlantic Canada is subject to stringent regulations and licence conditions put in place in 2009, based on the recommendations from the Independent Veterinarians Working Group, a team of international experts brought together by the World Wildlife Fund to look at animal-welfare issues in the context of the Canadian seal harvest. These rules ensure that animals are harvested quickly and humanely.

In addition, there are fines, penalties and forfeitures, and orders are assessed by provincial courts. The Fisheries Act, at section 40(1)(b)(ii)(A), provides for a fine of not less than $100,000 for a first offence upon summary conviction. Seven years ago, the Government of Canada — the previous government — strengthened the Marine Mammal Regulations to formalize already well-established humane harvesting practices. Regulatory amendments articulate a prescribed three-step process that is in keeping with international scientific standards and provide for a safe and humane harvest.

We should remain committed to supporting jobs and economic growth, which include the benefits to northern and coastal regions of the country provided by the responsible use of our natural resources, including that of the seal industry.

Designating May 20 as a national day to support this industry is another way to defend the traditions of Canada's Aboriginal people and coastal communities. By raising awareness of the cultural, health, economic and environmental importance of the seal harvest, we can help continue the fight against misconceptions and prejudice.

Colleagues, even though I am the critic of this bill, it is important to the sealing industry, and as a proud Canadian who has participated in the annual seal hunt, I encourage you to support this very important bill and the industry as a whole.

Thank you.