The European Union delivered the ban on all seal products which has many Canadian politicians fuming at the notion. Notably, Prime Minister Stephen Harper was quite dissatisfied with the decision as it threatens many Canadian jobs. Harper believes this travesty is a harsh critique of the sealers in Canada, “This is flagrant discrimination against the Canadian seal industry, against Canadian sealers … people who are doing animal husbandry, no differently than many other industries.” He went on to say, “It is a disgrace that they’re treated this way in some countries based on no rational facts or information whatsoever. We strongly object to the decision. We will continue to defend our sealers.”
However, Canada has seemed to bought itself a little bit of time. The ban on the seal products that was scheduled to go into effect on Friday has been halted for the time being. The European General Court, based out of Luxembourg, was forced to delay the ban because an Inuit group filed an application to delay the motion. Now government lawyers from Canada now have time to review the decision by the court in an attempt to launch an appeal.
With this ban looming, it really hurts an industry that is already been hurting since the recession. This ban is really the equivalent to kicking an industry while it is down. Who knows how long the sealers can muster to stay in this fight? If the EU ban passes, it just might be the knockout blow which will leave the Canadian sealers down for the count.
