Tag: Active campaigns – farmed animals

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Endangered, exploited, and still imported.

A group of macaques at a breeding facility peer through rusted wire while perching on their cage's ledge at sunset. Laos, 2011. Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals
Jo-Anne McArthur We Animals Media

Image credit: Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals 

  • Long-tailed macaques are the most heavily traded primate in the world for experimentation.  
  • Between 2023 and 2025, Canada allowed the import of more than 10,000 long-tailed macaques from Cambodia. 

TAKE ACTION: Sign the new federal e-petition, which aims to improve protections for long-tailed macaques in Canada. 

Sign the e-petition
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10,000 endangered long-tailed macaques, a species of monkey commonly traded for experimentation, were imported to Canada in just three years.

This is deeply concerning.

A five-year U.S. federal investigation found that Cambodia’s supply chain laundered wild-caught macaques as captive-bred animals. In November 2025, Thai authorities uncovered ongoing smuggling of wild macaques destined for Cambodia. These findings raise serious questions about the legality and traceability of animals entering international markets.

Canada has both the authority and the responsibility to act.

A barn owl sits tethered to the hand of their handler in Prague, Czechia. This owl is displayed in order to sell photoshoots with the captive bird. Prague, Czechia, 2021. Lukas Vincour / Zvirata Nejime / We Animals
Credit: Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals 

Your voice helps endangered monkeys

A new parliamentary e-petition calls on the Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature to: 

  1. Launch an investigation into the legality, traceability, and authenticity of CITES permits used for importing Cambodian long-tailed macaques into Canada; and 
  1. Add long-tailed macaques to Schedule II of the Wild Animal and Plant Trade Regulations so Canada can require and assess its own import permits. 

This is a critical opportunity to strengthen oversight, uphold wildlife protection laws, and ensure Canada is not complicit in the exploitation of endangered animals. 

The petition closes the morning of April 28, 2026. 

If you are a Canadian citizen or resident, please add your name today and share the petition with others who care about wildlife protection and ethical responsibility. 

*Note: You will be asked to confirm your email after signing. Please check your spam folder to confirm your email and ensure your voice counts. 

Sign the e-petition

Together, we can urge the federal government to take meaningful action for long-tailed macaques before it is too late. 

Share our content to reach more people and spread the word!

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Support the Protecting Victims Act: Criminalize the distribution of animal sexual abuse images

close up view of unrecognizable dog and owner woman holding hand and paw.

  • Last week, the Government of Canada introduced Bill C-16, the Protecting Victims Act.
  • This bill that moves to criminalize the distribution of animal sexual abuse images, while recognizing animals as victims and tools of coercive control.
  • These types images are not only acts of cruelty toward animals—they are also used to groom and exploit children and control victims.
  • This historic milestone was made possible through years of advocacy from Humane Canada (the federation of humane societies and SPCAs) and Member organizations.

TAKE ACTION: Use the quick message tool from Humane Canada to call on your MP to support the Protecting Victims Act.

Contact your MP

Take action

Violence against animals and violence against people are deeply connected, a reality that has left children, survivors, and animals without the protections they need. Bill C-16, the Protecting Victims Act, is a crucial step forward that recognizes the violence link and takes action where it is urgently needed.

The bill criminalizes the distribution of animal sexual abuse images, material that has been used to groom, manipulate, and exploit children. It also expands protections for people whose animals are harmed or threatened as a form of coercive control, a tactic widely used in intimate partner violence and criminal harassment.

These measures close long-standing gaps in Canadian law and strengthen safety for the entire family unit.

But Bill C-16 is not yet law. For these protections to take effect, Parliament must pass the legislation. Your voice can help ensure that happens.

Contact your MP
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4 years later, renewed calls to end live horse export for slaughter 

Horses packed in a crate on the arport tarmac to be shipped overseas for slaughter
Photo: Canadian Horse Defence Coalition

Photos: Canadian Horse Defence Coalition

  • December 16, 2025 marks four years since the federal Liberal government promised to ban live horse export for slaughter, yet the commitment remains unfulfilled. 
  • In that time, more than 10,700 horses have been shipped on long, stressful overseas flights, destined for slaughter despite widespread public opposition. 
  • These grueling 20+ hour journeys where horses are confined in cramped crates have led to injuries, extreme exhaustion, miscarriages, and deaths. 
  • Bill C-355, introduced in 2023 to end live horse export for slaughter, passed the House of Commons but stalled in the Senate and died with the 2025 election. 
  • With one of the most vocal Senators who previously blocked the bill now retired, Canadians are calling on the federal government to finally keep its promise and end this inhumane industry for good. 

Take action!

Online

Remind decision-makers that this issue matters to you! Use the talking points below to send a message to your Member of Parliament and the federal Minister of Agriculture. 

Talking points

In person

Attend the candlelight vigil planned in Vancouver on Tuesday, December 16th at Vancouver City Hall – 453 W 12th Ave, 6PM – 7PM.

For more information, visit the Vancouver event facebook page and see the full list of vigils across Canada.

Vancouver vigil
All vigils in Canada

 

Tell your Member of Parliament and the Minister of Agriculture to prioritize an end to live horse export for slaughter 

Step 1

Use your postal code to find your MP’s contact information and include the federal Minister of Agriculture, Honourable Heath MacDonald. 

Find my MP

Agriculture Minister, Heath MacDonald: aafc.minister-ministre.aac@agr.gc.ca  

Step 2

Use the key points below to help you draft your email. Personalized emails are more impactful, so be sure to use your own words. 

Why you’re writing: 

  • Share that you’re a constituent of the Member of Parliament; 
  • That you’re writing regarding Canada’s inhumane practice of live horse export for slaughter; 
  • That it’s the four year anniversary of the federal government’s promise to end live horse export for slaughter; 
  • That you’re urging the government to follow through on this promise and end the practice once and for all.  

Why the issue matters to you: 

Consider sharing a few of key issues below that most concern you: 

  • Horses are loaded into crowded crates and flown on lengthy and stressful journeys overseas, destined for slaughter. 
  • Horses can legally go 28 hours without food, water, or rest – though investigations show many journeys exceed this already inhumane time limit.  
  • Deaths and injuries are commonplace, with investigations uncovering extreme exhaustion, miscarriages, and even deaths during and soon after the flights. For example, 21 horses died in 13 months between May 2023-June 2024. 
  • More than 10,000 horses have been sent to their deaths since the government promised to ban live horse export for slaughter. 
  • Polling shows a strong majority of Canadians are opposed to live horse export for slaughter. 

Reiterate your request: 

  • That you’re strongly urging them, as your elected representative and the Minister responsible for implementing a ban, to prioritize an end to live horse export for slaughter. 

Ask for a reply: 

  • Thank them for their consideration of your request and ask that they respond to you at their earliest convenience, as this issue is important to you. 
Send a message to your Member of Parliament & Minister of Agriculture

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UPDATE: Support major changes to protect farmed animals in B.C.

New report recommends major changes to protect farmed animals in B.C. Add your name in support!

Following growing concerns about the state of farmed animal welfare in B.C., a committee tasked with reviewing the province’s farmed animal welfare framework has presented its recommendations to the Ministry of Agriculture. Join the VHS in urging decision-makers to prioritize next steps!

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Take action to protect farmed animals

Use the template message below to call on B.C.’s Premier and the Minister of Agriculture to take specific actions that build on these recommendations and to prioritize their implementation to meaningfully protect farmed animals from egregious cruelty and suffering.  

Live outside of Canada? You can email B.C.’s Premier at premier@gov.bc.ca and the Minister of Agriculture at AF.Minister@gov.bc.ca

Agriculture Ministry listening after years of welfare issues

In B.C. alone, near-annual undercover investigations over the last decade have revealed serious and systemic welfare issues within the animal agriculture industry. 

In late 2022, B.C.’s Ministry of Agriculture launched a review of the province’s farmed animal welfare framework. This week, a Ministry advisory committee released a new farmed animal welfare recommendations report that will be considered by the Ministry as part of the review. 

The report’s recommendations include a new government-funded inspection and enforcement function within the Ministry of Agriculture, which would take over responsibility for implementation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act with respect to farmed animals. Other recommendations include providing an annual public report around enforcement activities; an expanded range of enforcement options and penalties; animal welfare and humane handling training improvements; and continued support for the inclusion of farmed animals in emergency planning.  

Learn more about the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture’s farmed animal welfare framework review and the advisory committee’s recommendations report. 

Learn more