This petition is in support of S-207 re-introduced by Canadian Senator Mac Harb on May 2, 2012. The leglislation would end Canada's annual commercial seal hunt while respecting the rights of Canada's aboriginal people and treaty obligations. Senator Harb wants to help find alternative incomes for sealers who earned only $18 a pelt in 2012 down from $100 per pelt in 2006. That's a profit to each sealer of only $3,267 before expenses.
Recent polling has shown that 68% of Canadians oppose the use of taxpayer money to promote this inhumane, brutal hunt. And eighty-four percent approve of taxes spent on a transitional program to provide other employment opportunities for sealers. The cruelty with which this hunt is conducted is tarnishing Canada's reputation in the eyes of many American, European and Canadian citizens. The European Union was a primary market for the Canadian sealing industry, and they have placed a ban on seal product trade. Despite this, the Canadian government still supports the hunt and is working to overturn trade bans and reopen markets for seal fur and other seal products.
Efforts to stop the hunt have produced clear results. Since 2005, the number of seals killed has declined from 323,826 to 69,175 in 2012. By signing this petition, you will help bring the campaign to stop the seal hunt one step closer to success.