Trudeau resigns; Parliament prorogues: What this means for animal welfare

We want to express our gratitude to Prime Minister Trudeau for his leadership during challenging times. Under his tenure, significant strides were made to improve animal welfare in Canada, including:

• Tackling marine pollution: Canada became a member of the Global Ghost Gear Initiative and continues to fund initiatives aimed at the prevention and removal of lost, abandoned and derelict fishing gear, which kills millions of sea creatures each year.
• Promoting plant-based diets: The 2019 evidence-based Canada’s Food Guide encouraged healthier, more sustainable eating habits by prioritizing plant-based foods.
• Investing in sustainable economic growth: Major investments were made to support Canada’s growing plant-based food sector, paving the way for a humane and eco-friendly food system.
• Ending cetacean captivity: Canada banned the breeding, display and trade of whales, dolphins and porpoises for entertainment (Bill S-203).
• Banning cruel animal practices: Milestones like the 2019 ban on shark finning, 2023 ban on cosmetic animal testing, the prohibition of strychnine poisoning in 2024 and the ivory and rhino horn trade ban mark significant progress for animal protection.
• Recognizing animal welfare at the international level: Canada championed the 2022 adoption of recognizing the role of animal welfare in the global climate and biodiversity crises, and pandemic risk.

While these achievements are worth celebrating, there’s still much work to do.

As we look ahead, we remain committed to advancing protections for animals. While the progress of several key bills that we’ve worked on including Bill S-15 and Bill C-293 comes to a halt, we will continue to build on the progress made and ensure animal welfare remains a priority on Parliament’s agenda. Rest assured, if there is anything we can do to get these bills passed, we will.

As we prepare for the next election, we encourage all political parties to include strong animal welfare commitments in their platforms. Our Vote for Animals campaign sets out practical, evidence-based proposals to end the unsustainable wildlife trade, curb factory farming, and transition to a more plant-forward food system—solutions that protect animals, people and our planet.

In the coming weeks, we’ll reach out to each party and share these proposals in hopes they’ll integrate them into their platforms. By doing so, they can demonstrate to voters that they take animal welfare seriously and are committed to building a more humane, sustainable future.

Stay tuned for updates on how you can take action to bring animal welfare back to the top of Parliament’s agenda and make animal welfare an election issue in the upcoming federal election.

Whether through signing petitions, contacting your Member of Parliament or amplifying the message on social media, your voice matters.