End horse slaughter in Canada

We, the undersigned residents of Canada, draw the attention of the house to the following:
THAT hundreds of thousands of work horses and foals have been slaughtered for food in order to be sold as gourmet meat in foreign markets; and
THAT in 1998 alone, approximately 23 152 American horses were transported to Canada and killed for human consumption; and
THAT horses are companion animals, they are not raised for food and are taxed differently than food animals; and
THAT slaughtered horses come from a variety of places, receiving a variety of veterinarian care and drugs throughout their lives, unlike animals that are raised for meat; and
THAT the horse has been an important figure in the history of Canada and our Royal Canadian Mounted Police force; and
THAT in 1999, approximately 62 351 horses were slaughtered in Canada; and
THAT the state of California has already passed Proposal 6, known as The Prohibition of Horse Slaughter and Sale of Horse meat for Human Consumption Act of 1998:
THEREFORE we the undersigned, your petitioners call upon Parliament to enact legislation against the slaughter of horses and sale of horse meat for human consumption.

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