Statement by the Honourable Stéphane Dion, Leader of the Official Opposition, on the seal hunt

April 18, 2008

On behalf of the Liberal Party of Canada and our Parliamentary caucus, I would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm our support for a sustainable seal hunt.Canada’s sealing industry is tightly regulated to be sustainable, humane and commercially viable and to protect the traditional way of life for people in Canada’s coastal communities. It is a time-honoured tradition and an important industry for thousands of Canadians throughout the North, Atlantic Canada and Quebec. Seals have been harvested for food, fuel, shelter and other materials for hundreds of years. The subsistence hunt is a valuable link to Canadian cultural heritage.

Under a Liberal Government the seal harvest was always and will continue to be supported as a responsible practice. I wish all sealers currently out at harvest a safe passage.