The suit said that fur farming likely breaks the province’s animal welfare laws
National animal advocacy groups Animal Justice and The Fur-Bearers have filed an application for judicial review in Quebec Superior Court over the government’s tolerance of fur farming.
The groups said that fur farming likely breaks Quebec’s animal welfare laws; thus, the government is acting unlawfully in condoning such a practice. The groups called for the court to declare as unreasonable the government’s lack of action against the suffering of animals on fur farms, and for the court to order the government to act.
In fur farming, wild fur-bearing animals like foxes and minks are kept in cages before being killed for their fur. According to Animal Justice, these animals are confined to small, unkempt spaces that “prevent them from engaging in the most basic natural behaviours.”
Countries that have already prohibited fur farming include the UK, Italy, Ireland, Norway, and France. British Columbia also illegitimized the practice after COVID-19 broke out at mink fur farms in 2021.
“There is a growing body of scientific evidence and international support for ending fur farming due to the animal welfare, public health, and environmental impacts. Quebec can be a leader in Canada by taking action now to end fur farming provincially,” said Lesley Fox, The Fur-Bearers’ executive director, in a statement.
Quebec’s animal welfare legislation requires fur farms to secure a permit; however, the practice was never enforced, according to Animal Justice. The government had also not implemented steps to manage or prohibit fur farming.
The Montreal SPCA obtained government documents showing that Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec officials had already reported going back to 2022 that Quebec fox and mink fur farms failed to meet the animals’ biological needs; moreover, the fur farming industry did not secure their welfare. The abolition of fur farms was recommended in an internal report; per officials, it would not impact Quebec’s economy since the industry was declining sharply.
“Despite knowing fur farms likely don’t respect Quebec’s own laws, the government has failed to take any action for years. It’s time for the courts to step in. We are asking the Court to confirm that by turning its back on extreme and unnecessary animal suffering on fur farms, the government has acted unlawfully. Now is the time for Quebec to do the right thing and ban fur farming for good,” said Alanna Devine, Animal Justice’s director of advocacy and Montreal lawyer, in a statement.
Melançon Marceau Grenier Cohen’s Marie-Claude St-Amant will act for Animal Justice and The Fur-Bearers in the suit. The application was filed on Wednesday November 26.
