On World Animal Day (October 4th), Humane World for Animals Canada is proud to announce that legendary Canadian musicians Bryan Adams and Liona Boyd are joining forces with the organization and tens of thousands of Canadians and global supporters to urge the Canadian government to better protect animals.
Humane World is calling on the Canadian Government to introduce legislation to ban the captivity of elephants, great apes and big cats, and to prohibit the live export of horses by air for slaughter — two issues that died on the order paper because of the recent federal election.
“Canada has the responsibility to lead with compassion,” said Bryan Adams, Canadian music icon and long-time animal advocate. “Elephants, great apes, lions, and tigers are not ours to cage — they are sentient, intelligent beings who suffer immensely in captivity. Let’s be the country that chooses empathy over exploitation.”
Classical guitarist and singer, Officer of the Order of Canada and recent inductee to Canada’s Walk of Fame, Liona Boyd said: “As a proud Canadian and lifelong horse lover, I am ashamed and heartbroken by the suffering these gentle and sensitive animals are forced to endure during long, terrifying flights to slaughter. Canadians have spoken — we beseech you to stop this cruelty now.”
“These long-overdue reforms reflect the values of Canadians and the growing global consensus that wild and domestic animals deserve protection from cruelty and exploitation,” said Ewa Demianowicz, program director for Humane World for Animals Canada. “Whether it’s lions and elephants kept in cages or horses shipped overseas to be slaughtered, the suffering is real and preventable. On World Animal Day, we call on our leaders to act with courage and compassion. The time to prohibit these needless practices is now.”
Background
- The Government of Canada introduced Bill S-15 in 2023 to end the captivity of elephants and great apes for entertainment.
- During legislative review, lawmakers recommended expanding the Bill S-15 to include protections for non-native big cats, such as lions and tigers.
- Bill S-15 built upon the vision of the Jane Goodall Act, first introduced by the Honourable Senator Murray Sinclair in 2020.
- Bill S-15 reflected Canada’s ongoing commitment to protecting captive wild animals and advancing animal welfare legislation.
- However, Bill S-15 died on the order paper following the federal election.
About Humane World for Animals
Together, we tackle the root causes of animal cruelty and suffering to create permanent change. With millions of supporters and work happening in over 50 countries, Humane World for Animals—formerly called Humane Society International—addresses the most deeply entrenched forms of animal cruelty and suffering. As the leading voice in the animal protection space, we work to end the cruelest practices, care for animals in crisis and build a stronger animal protection movement. Driving toward the greatest global impact, we aim to achieve the vision behind our name: a more humane world.
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