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S'enregistrer au Flux RSS Le Sénat du Canada
Jan 27

Ethics are not limited to animals

From Céline Hervieux-Payette in Politics

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 Following an anti-sealing activist’s attack on the Hon. Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Senator Hervieux-Payette spoke out in support of the Minister’s efforts on behalf of the sealing industry and condemned the actions of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

The Minister was delivering a speech in Ontario on January 25 when an activist hit her in the face with a tofu cream pie.

PETA claimed responsibility for the incident. The organization promotes a vegetarian society and is well known for its stance against the fisheries and the seal hunt. PETA stated in a news release that this action was part of its campaign to “stop the government” from supporting the seal hunt.

“The vegetarian lobbies have turned into extremists. They do not respect our democratic institutions and use savage tactics to achieve their goals, which greatly discredits their cause,” said Senator Hervieux-Payette.

“I am completely convinced that this attack, which PETA claims responsibility for, is simply fund-raising propaganda,” she said, alluding to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)—another anti-sealing organization—which is using the earthquake in Haiti to raise funds, supposedly to rescue the island’s animals.

Press Release

Jan 21

The Fur Council of Canada supports the Universal Declaration of the Ethical Harvest of Seals

From Céline Hervieux-Payette in Environment, Politics

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I have the pleasure of announcing that the Canadian Fur Council officially supports the Universal Declaration on the Ethical Harvest of Seals. This event is significant because there is a growing number of organizations, governments and people who realize that the Universal Declaration on the Ethical Harvesting of Seals, as an appropriate measure to ensure that the use of Seals by Canadians for personal or commercial uses, is both ethical and sustainable. This announcement is of great importance because the Canadian Fur Council is an organization that regroups many individuals from artisans to hunters.

The Canadian Fur Council has long been an ally to the cause of defending the right of aboriginal and coastal communities in Canada to harvest seals. I must also give praise for their help in organizing demonstrations as well as aiding in forming a coalition of persons who share the belief that the Seal hunt is morally right and that measures have been taken by governments and organizations to ensure that this activity is carried out with the best knowledge of vetenarian science, aboriginal knowledge, ethical principles and environmental conservation.

Through their website www.furisgreen.com they have helped articulate the truth about the fur industry in Canada and how important conservation and animal welfare are important for the industry. I therefore urge individuals to check their website as well as for people to sign the petition regarding the Universal Declaration on the Ethical Harvesting of Seals at www.sealsonline.org.

 

Press Release

Dec 16

The Senate of Canada recognizes the right of coastal communities to earn a living from the use of animal resources

From Céline Hervieux-Payette in Environment, Politics, Social

a sealer's sign by trulygreenfish.

OTTAWA, December 16th, 2009 - “ Honourable senators, I am caught up in the enthusiasm for uniting everyone and giving the gift of hope to our citizens on the east or Atlantic coast, whether on the Magdalen Islands or Newfoundland, and to our friends in Nunavut and all those involved in the seal hunt.”, said Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette in response to the Senate’s unanimous adoption of her motion on the Protection of Animals and Ecosystems.

 

“I would also like to thank Daniel Shewchuk, Nunavut Minister of the Environment, Quebec Minister Claude Béchard and Mr. Tom Henderson, former fisheries minister with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, who all supported me in preparing this motion,” continued  Senator Hervieux-Payette.

 

The adoption of this motion by the Senate of Canada sends a clear message to vegetarian groups who manipulate public opinion to finance their ideology. The Senate renews its commitment to preserving the balance of the ecosystem, promoting animal welfare and protecting human communities. Humans have a right to utilize natural resources such as animals when done in an ethical and sustainable manner. “We are talking about people who deny that in the order of things human beings are authorized to use what the land provides, which in this case is essential revenue for our people living in the North and also on the coast,” added the Senator.

 

The Senator emphasized the importance of the ethical harvest of animals by clarifying the definition of the term “ethical”: “this provision was included in response to professional standards developed by the veterinarians, anthropologists and other experts who have worked with me toward the goal of having all countries ratify the Universal Declaration on the Ethical Harvest of Seals,” emphasized Senator Hervieux-Payette.

 

The Senator lead a panel of experts to create a Universal Declaration on the Ethical Harvest of Seals (www.sealsonline.org) which has been officially supported by the governments of Newfoundland and Labrador, Québec and the IWMC World Conservation Trust.

 

Motion Protection of Animals and Ecosystems

Dec 10

Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette seeks $ 15.4 million per year in funding to ensure a minimum income for sealers

From Céline Hervieux-Payette in Economy, Environment, Politics, Social

North Canada Village

OTTAWA, December 10th, 2009 - “We must not add contempt to cynicism,” said Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette to summarize her demand to the Conservative government to intervene on behalf of sealers, who face a cynical and unfair European boycott of seal products.


In a study published in April 2009, Professor of Economics John Livernois estimated the revenues of sealers to be 15.4 million for 2005 hunting season. 2005 was a good year but was not exceptional and was the last year before vegetarian groups led their final offensive in Europe. “I believe that as long as we have to fight against this unjust boycott, the income sealers received in 2005 from the hunt should be insured by the Government of Canada,” said Senator Hervieux-Payette who thinks that aid in developing new markets for seal products would decrease funding.


The Senator is also concerned about the Inuit, “the price of sealskins in Nunavut has dropped dramatically in the last year from $ 70 to $ 25 which proves that the exemption of Inuit consumption products from the European boycott is an additional aberration.”

 

Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette urges all governments to promote and study the application of the Universal Declaration on the Ethical Harvest of Seals (www.sealsonline.com) written by a panel of experts and scientists from Canada and the United States. To this day, the government of Québec, the government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the international organization for animal conservation IWMC World Conservation Trust based in Switzerland have officially supported the Declaration.

Dec 07

Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette applauds Québec’s decision to support the Universal Declaration on the Ethical Harvest of Seals

From Céline Hervieux-Payette in Economy, Environment, International, Politics, Social

declaration-signet

“I applaud the decision of the government of Québec to support the Universal Declaration on the Ethical Harvest of Seals (www.sealsonline.org), said Senator Hervieux-Payette who lead the project, and am delighted by Québec’s strong implication in the negotiations between Canada and the European Union on a free trade agreement.”

Written by a team of seven experts and scientists from six Canadian provinces and territories and the United States, the Universal Declaration will be a starting point for new discussions between North Americans and Europeans on the topic of marine mammal welfare, including the seal.

The Declaration aims to establish common ethical principles for all seal-hunting countries by promoting a three-way balance between ensuring animal welfare, ensuring the well being of human communities and protecting species and ecosystems.

“This declaration fits perfectly with the vision of the government of Quebec in promoting a seal hunt that is sustainable and free of cruelty,” wrote the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mr. Claude Béchard in his letter written to the Senator on the 3rd of December 2009. “The government of Québec has been collaborating for many years with the industry and other governments to ensure that the hunt is carried out by respecting the highest international standards, ”emphasized the Minister.

The Declaration has also received the support of the government of Newfoundland and Labrador along with the international organization for animal conservation IWMC World Conservation Trust based in Switzerland.

Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette urges all governments and concerned organizations to promote and study the application of the Universal Declaration on the Ethical Harvest of Seals written by a panel of experts.

 

 

 

Dec 04

No To The National Rifle Association of America

From Céline Hervieux-Payette in Health, Politics, Social

Minuteman Statue

Scrapping the gun registry would be a monumental mistake that could cost the lives of innocent Canadians and police officers. The gun registry is an essential component of a civilized country. It is a must to protect our families, our police forces and our communities.

The recent events in the U.S. demonstrate that guns kill innocent people and their proliferation is making our communities less safe. The gun registry is close to 10000 times a day by police forces throughout the country and was used in Québec days after the Dawson School shooting to stop an individual from committing a similar act.

The financial cost associated with the gun registry is negligible in terms of the cost of preventing the loss of human life. The gun registry is aimed at preventing gun crime and does not penalize responsible owners who possess firearms for hunting or recreational use.

To those who say that gun crime is solely committed by individuals possessing illegal firearms I would like to point out that the two massacres that occurred in academic institutions in Québec were committed using legally owned firearms.

This is why the Liberal Party of Canada strongly believes that all firearms must be efficiently controlled and regulated. The gun registry is a tool in the prevention of violent crimes and sends a message to Canadians that legal firearm ownership is an acceptable part of our society.

I can assure you that I will stand up for the right of every possible innocent victim, including those who intend to commit suicide using firearms. It is important to remember that gun ownership is not a fundamental right in Canada but is a privilege, which can be vested only in responsible citizens.

This weekend I urge you  to reflect on this the impact of violent crimes have on our society and remember the lives of the 14 women who lost their lives 20 years ago on the 6th of December whose legacy helped create the gun registry.

Dec 01

Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette tabled a motion in the Senate demanding the recognition of the legitimacy of raising, harvesting and using animals in an ethical way.

From Céline Hervieux-Payette in Economy, Politics

01_15_52_prevOTTAWA, December 1, 2009 - “I have tabled a motion in the Senate to protect the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of Canadians and their industries,” said Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette.

Vegetarian groups have tremendously increased their pressure on world governments demanding changes to our society which will have serious repercussions. Groups such as PETA, the Humane Society and actresses such as Brigitte Bardot and Pamela Anderson have actively promoted the association of animal harvesting with animal cruelty.

 This motion will reassure these groups of Canada`s commitment to animal welfare while recognizing that humans are an integral part of the ecosystem. As mentioned in the motion: “a balanced ecosystem is the result of constant interactions between predators and prey throughout the food web, that humans are an integral part of the ecosystem and, therefore, that their position as predators cannot be separated from nature.”

 This motion is part of a large issue regarding human kind’s vision of animals on our planet. Throughout the world organizations like PETA and the Humane Society along with personalities who have acted collectively like Brigitte Bardot who asked the French President Nicolas Sarkozy to declare a national vegetarian day in France. “All these groups are against the Seal Hunt and more importantly against all use of animal products by humans”, said the Senator.

 ”The goal of my motion is to get the Parliament of Canada to affirm that humankind can legitimately raise, harvest and use animals that are either wild or farmed and this for purposes that are either economic, personal or scientific”. Concluded Senator Hervieux-Payette.

Nov 25

Eureka Watt Prize

From Céline Hervieux-Payette in Politics

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Today I am launching my Eureka Watt prize, an award that I will hand out every month to the “brightest” Canadians. Eureka Watts range from a scale of 250 Eureka Watts to 0 measured on the Eureka Wattmeter.

The first recipient of the Eureka Watt prize is none other than the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper. He has shone by his lack of transparency and his relentless disinformation regarding Canada’s role in torture of transferred Afghan detainees. For this reason Mr. Harper deserves 0 Eureka Watts.

Nov 19

Against the child-rearing violence | Declaration of Senator Hervieux-Payette

From Céline Hervieux-Payette in Health, Politics, Social

Canada Can Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child by Adopting Bill S-209

 Support Bill S-209: join the Facebook Group

It has long been debated what role the state should play in lives of Canadians. Through these different debates it has become clear that the state has a moral obligation to assist all citizens. In particular, this obligation to defend the rights of our citizens must strongly take into consideration those who are the most fragile members of society such as our children.

There exists substantial scientific proof that children between the ages of 2-12 years of age are in a critical period of development that will impact the adults they will become in the future. For this reason we must rethink our interpretation of the ways our society deems acceptable to raise a child in order for him or her to develop to their full potential.

Parents are not sovereign in the manner that they may treat a child, a spouse or a family member. Children are human beings who are entitled to the same rights as their parents. These rights include life, liberty and more importantly physical integrity.

The recent consciousness made regarding the new roles parents must lead must be further examined by society. As a result of this consciousness surrounding this situation, I felt that it was important to use my role as a legislator to propose amendments to the traditional way in which parents raise their children. The bill that I have proposed against child rearing violence, Bill S-209, will never criminalize parents, rather this bill will help parents find non violent educational methods. For this reason, Bill S-209 includes an obligatory awareness campaign.

Religious values such as education, forgiveness, respect and compassion must be used to create a more harmonious society. These values are represented in Bill S-209 and must reflect a modern vision of our children in society.

We must also take advantage of adopting Bill S-209 because November 20th 2009, marks the 20th anniversary of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child. Canada was a signatory member of this convention and is lacking in the area of protecting children from the threat of educative violence. The time is more pressing than ever to demonstrate not only to the international community that Canada is consistent with its reputation regarding human rights but also to prove to our children that Canada is a country that will ensure that they are able to develop to the fullest of their potential.

Canada has learned many things about Children’s Rights from other countries who have adopted laws similar to the Bill that I am proposing. These countries have effectively legislated such behavior without compromising the rights of parents to educate their children in a positive manner.

The parent child relationship in Canada must change; Bill S-209 must be used as a stepping stone to further protect the rights of children. In order to have a harmonious society we need educational methods that are pacific. We must never forget that the children of today will be the parents of tomorrow. It is now more important than ever to ensure that the adults of today teach the acts which they hope their children will one day reproduce.

The Honourable Celine Hervieux-Payette, PC
Senator

Nov 03

Children See. Children DO. Support Bill S-209

From Céline Hervieux-Payette in Health, Politics, Social

A video demonstrating the importance of positive education methods by parents.

 

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