EDMONTON—Advocates will gather outside the Liberal caucus retreat in Edmonton today to rally for horses and urge the governing Liberal Party to keep its 2021 promise to ban the live export of horses for slaughter.
The rally, organized by Animal Justice, Humane World for Animals Canada, and the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC), will be accompanied by giant inflatable horses, serving as an unavoidable reminder of the Liberal Party’s four-year-old pledge to end the export of horses for slaughter overseas. Since the promise was made in September 2021, more than 10,500 horses have been exported for slaughter, with most flown out of the Edmonton airport.
Every year, thousands of terrified draft horses destined for slaughter in Japan are trucked from feedlots in western Canada to the Edmonton and Winnipeg airports, crammed into wooden crates, and flown overseas to be slaughtered and eaten as a raw delicacy. The shipments frequently go over the 28-hour legal limit for transport without food, water, and rest, leading to severe distress and health risks.
Liberal MP Tim Louis introduced a bill to outlaw these live air exports during the last Parliament. The bill passed the House in 2023 but then stalled in the Senate, where it died in March when the election was called. Polling consistently shows a vast majority of Canadians want to see an end to this cruel practice.
In an investigation last year, Animal Justice showed that horses regularly suffer injuries, illness and even death in connection with the flights. These injuries and deaths are not reflected in records kept by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
“As the Liberal government considers its priorities for the coming legislative session, it’s a critical moment to remember that the Party made a promise to Canadians to end this cruel, niche industry that only benefits a handful of operators," said Kaitlyn Mitchell, legal advocacy director at Animal Justice. "Ending live horse export is something Canadians care deeply about, and it remains an issue that deserves urgent attention.”
"Every year, thousands of horses are packed into crates for long flights, terrified and exhausted, only to face slaughter at the end of the journey," said Sinikka Crosland president CHDC. "This suffering is entirely preventable, and this stain on Canada’s reputation could end immediately with action by the Liberal government.”
Ewa Demianowicz, program director at Humane World for Animals Canada, formerly called Humane Society International/Canada, said: “The Liberal Party of Canada has advanced a number of critical animal protection measures in recent years, bringing Canadian policy more in line with public values. But important gaps remain, including the Liberal Party commitment to banning live export of horses by air for slaughter. The Canadian horses subjected to this long journey arrive exhausted at their destination only to face a horrible fate, and many are injured and die in these treacherous and cruel shipments. On behalf of the overwhelming majority of Canadians, the federal government needs to take urgent action now to stop this senseless suffering.”
Event details:
- When: Thursday, September 11, 2025, 12:00 p.m. MDT
- Where: Outside the Liberal Party retreat — The Westin, 10135 100th Street
Interviews available on-site