Canada’s Shame: Outdated Transport Laws Kill More Than 20,000 Farmed Animals Each Day

A recent National Observer article discusses the lack of protection for farmed animals transported in Canada.

In early 2015, Mercy For Animals released a hidden-camera video revealing countless chickens packed into tiny transport cases headed to Maple Lodge Farms, Canada’s largest independent poultry processing plant.

MFA’s cameras had captured the horrors of live export in Canada before.

In 2014, an undercover investigation of Western Hog Exchange in Red Deer, Alberta, exposed the terrifying truth behind this cruel industry: Pigs beaten and packed into trucks to endure freezing temperatures, dehydration, disease, and frostbite. It’s estimated that 8 million animals die during transport in Canada annually.


Canada is far behind the rest of the modern world when it comes to live export. In fact, it’s been more than a decade since the Canadian government updated its live transport laws.

Krista Hiddema, MFA’s managing director in Canada, states:
What is particularly noteworthy is that in Canada we fall far behind every other Western country as it relates to animal transportation. When it comes to how live, breathing animals are shipped to slaughter, Canada’s regulations fall well behind the standards of Australia, New Zealand, the European Union and the United States.
Tell Canada it’s time to overhaul its archaic transport regulations. Sign our petition urging the minister of agriculture to update them.

Remember, you can help farmed animals at every meal by choosing compassionate vegan foods. Click here to order your FREE Vegetarian Starter Guide.