Canada is obviously rife with callous and cretinous government officials. Apparently, the only famous Canadian that cares deeply about animals is rocker Bryan Adams.

Posted by: Brien Comerford | March 4, 2009 04:35 PM

Kudos to Senator Harb. I hope this slight setback does not discourage him to stop trying to push the bill through. I'm sure PETA Canada can help stir up the masses in support of the Senator.

All you Canadians out there should pick up the phone and start calling your Senators to support the bill.

Posted by: michelle | March 4, 2009 04:51 PM

If most people are against this hunt, then why does it continue? I think this calls for acts of MASSIVE civil disobedience in Canada.

Posted by: Kelley | March 4, 2009 06:28 PM

Animals will never be safe until Humans are wiped out from the face of the earth,,
Those Canadians are discusting Lowlifes to do this to a poor innocent defensless creatures all for the sake of fashion, which gets discareded when it goes out of fashion.. GREDDY MONEYHUNGRY B@@@@

Posted by: Brandi | March 4, 2009 06:31 PM

Yes, congrats to Mac Harb. It takes a tremendous amount of guts to buck the status quo, and I hope he's not discouraged. We love you, Mac!

Ajax-Pickering Member of Parliament Mark Holland also deserves special mention for his advocacy on behalf of animals, not the least of which is his vegetarianism.

Posted by: Mike Quinoa | March 4, 2009 06:31 PM

As a Canadian I wrote to thank Senator Harb for his efforts to end the seal hunt.
However, Canadian politicians do not have the backbone to face the wrath of Newfoundland so we must continue to close all the markets for seal products.

Posted by: NT | March 4, 2009 07:24 PM

*shakes head*
Oh, Canada...

Posted by: Meech! | March 4, 2009 08:08 PM

Hooray to Senator Mac Harb. I have already emailed the Toronto senator to support Harb, I hope we win this fight. :)

Posted by: Akool | March 4, 2009 09:02 PM

The clubbing to death of baby seals should be stopped. It is inhumane, vicious, cruel and unnecessary. The emotional trauma the mother goes through watching and hearing her baby beaten to death. The fear that fills the air along with the smell of blood traumatizes all the seals. I believe we should be proud we have such wonderful wildlife here in Canda, why man wants to destroy nature is a mystery. I also believe the kind of person that participates in this kind of cruel slaughter should die by the very sword he or she lives by

Posted by: Lesley Taafe | March 4, 2009 09:05 PM

Go Harb go! Well done!!

Posted by: David | March 4, 2009 09:42 PM

I'm really happy someone in Ottawa has a pair of balls to stand up for defenseless baby animals. Hopefully Harper grows a pair soon.

Posted by: Amanda | March 4, 2009 10:18 PM

YES YES YES!!!

Kudos to Senator Harb, the man is a hero, who's broken the mould so to speak. He
should probably run for the PM's job. PETA's Canadian members can hopefully stir up the pot, this is a GOLDEN opportunity for Canadians to DO something...as I have pointed out before it is their responsibility as citizens of a democracy. As we also know, most of them despise seal "hunting" and in these tough economic times, the time to kill the hunt is now.

Posted by: Neil Warne | March 4, 2009 10:34 PM

The majority of Canadians do not support the seal hunt & I encourage all Canadians to call their MLA and support Senator Harb.

Posted by: Amy S | March 4, 2009 11:16 PM

...how does the Canadian government ignore the fact that the Russians of all people are banning their own seal hunt?? It just goes to show the level of moral bankruptcy that still exists today. and worse at the highest levels. disheartening..

Posted by: andrea | March 5, 2009 12:13 AM

After reading and watching a lot , i start wondering , that if -among other main actions- we must make a research team that can calculate in terms of economy , what all this trade possibly costs to Canada as nation .
I mean , calculate how many money Canadian goverment may pay in the future in bans ,and if there is such committee , that someone can proceed .
That financial-future risk calculation , could also contain evidence of how much more involved are as a nation that accepts (if not promotes) that kind of blood emporium , to the allready dying ice places , whether talking in terms of animal , or water or thermal-deconstruction of those waters.
If a detailed specialists work can prove all this ,then we introduce an new tool of high pressure & efficiency in our armory .

Is it possible ? What do U think ?

Happy to talk to U all .
Prokopios . Tz .
Athens Greece

Posted by: Prokopios Tzoulis | March 5, 2009 05:48 AM

please canadians, please vote all those politicians out of office. Senator Harb is a good man and we need more of him. sorry Canada but I have to boycott the olympics because I can't stand the baby seal clubbing.

Posted by: roxanne | March 5, 2009 06:41 AM

I for one have been protesting the seal hunt for as long as I can remember. Our problem here in Canada is our government. It has to be the most corrupt government in a non communist country. I and most Canadians do not support this inhumane marine mammal barbaric hunt and it must be stopped. Please everyone send an email to your MP NOW.

Posted by: I AM CANADIAN | March 5, 2009 09:07 AM

Wow! I am so pleased that Putin has spoken out against the seal hunt! That has to be a blow to Canada!

Posted by: Sarah | March 5, 2009 09:45 AM

Be in Ottawa, March 15th, from 10AM to 4PM, at the Byward Market for a very special event to protest the commercial seal hunt.

There will be petitions available for signing, to support Mac Harb's efforts (yay Mac!) to introduce legislation to ban the hunt.

It really is too bad that no other Canadian government rep could stand up for the seals...

Posted by: Michele | March 5, 2009 10:18 AM

I'm Canadian and I was so excited when I heard about Mac Harb's bill! IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) has a great email set up that people can send, please everyone go check it out! Let's finally get the seal hunt to stop!

Posted by: Aneliese | March 5, 2009 10:30 AM

let's stand up for the seals... Please support Senetor Harb!

Posted by: Diana Di Marco | March 5, 2009 10:55 AM

Just a political quick note for all those who are encouraging us to call OUR senators and ask them to support the bill. Unfortunately the Senate in Canada is NOT elected, it is appointed by Prime Ministers for life, therefore Senators do not owe allegiance to any constituents. Anyway, I am not saying we shouldn't write to all senators, I already have, but the most important people to influence is the MPs because we can vote them out at the next election.

Posted by: NT | March 5, 2009 11:55 AM

Much as I realise there are good humans in this world who fight the animals/creatures corner vehemently, I sadly must agree with all '' Brandi's,'' comment 4th. March.

Posted by: keith | March 5, 2009 01:02 PM

I am Canadian and I am embaressed that this is happening. We are suposed to be a nation of peace and there is nothing peaceful about this slaughter! Please STOP THE SEAL HUNT!

Posted by: KH | March 5, 2009 02:11 PM

I too hope Senator Harb keeps trying. The annual slaughter makes me embarassed to call myself Canadian (not to mention sick to my stomach).

Posted by: Stephanie | March 5, 2009 03:18 PM

Keith,

I am so sick of this garbage on here, that some of you people like Brandi are prepared to write. Guess what, although you might think it helps the baby seals, IT DOESN'T. I applaud Mac's actions, although, if he failes to secure popular support in Parliament for a debate at least on this bill which is much needed, perhaps a referendum/plebiscite on the matter might work...

Posted by: Patrick Ward | March 5, 2009 03:50 PM

It is now the second time I have contacted my MP to take some action and this time I quoted our hero Mac Harb.
I hope he will dig way deep and find a heart and follow Mac Harb lead and not be like every other government official and pass the buck...
Our government is so fucked up, I have lost all respect for the Canadian government!

Posted by: Tammy | March 5, 2009 04:27 PM

Let's finally stop this massacre! It is a shame for Canada and its government.

Posted by: Chantal Cerdan | March 5, 2009 06:52 PM

I am a Canadian that severely opposes the seal hunt. I believe this horrific, inhumane, unnecessary industry should be tackled from all angles. Canadians need to contact their government officials and insist that this barbaric hunt be stopped. We also need to identify who is buying seal products and kill the industry - not the seals!! I was surprised to read which designer labels use seal fur and which countries are the largest purchasers. I will not mention them here but I encourage everyone to look up as much information as you can on the subject and contact/boycott these companies.

Don't forget to sign the PETA petition and have everyone you know sign it too!

Posted by: twin2 | March 6, 2009 12:36 AM

Yes and up yours too !! Mr. Ward. Its easy to spout nonsense when your not having your brains bashed out or being skinned alive, you sicko !!

Posted by: keith | March 6, 2009 10:08 AM

way to go Senator

Posted by: Linda | March 6, 2009 05:57 PM

Just to put things into persepctive for you Keith, I am as anti-seal hunting as they come. And I am the sicko? Come off it. I have lost a lot of sleep over the issue. My paragraph about the "garbage people are prepared to write" related to people who believed that Canadians as a whole endorsed seal hunting, Canada is a completely sick country, I'm getting quite tired of it. Attitudes like that are nearly as bad as this horrendous obscenity, we are discussing. Let's stick to the issues, and work to put a stop to this horrendous ritual.

Posted by: Patrick Ward | March 6, 2009 10:23 PM

To attack Canadians personally, is completely wrong. There are some of us who are trying to stop this massacre, so stop generalizing us. In my case, I'm under the age of majority, so I'm screwed in terms of power of the vote.
Secondly, as was stated earlier, our Senators are not elected by the people, they're appointed by the reigning prime minister at the time. It's a position for life pretty much, and there is little we can do about who gets appointed to the Senate. The MP's are a whole other matter, and something that Canadians can do something about. It would be far more effective to write to your MP than to your Senator, as most Canadians know, the our Senate has very little power.

Posted by: EmmaLee | March 6, 2009 11:23 PM

I'm embarrassed to be a Canadian during this time. I remember writing to PM Trudeau in the 70's about this horrific ritual. Is it only now that a Canadian politician has had the guts to stand up and take notice?!! We're behind you Mr. Harb. Never give up. I haven't even after all of these years!

Posted by: Kelly Clarke | March 7, 2009 10:26 AM

I cannot express how disgusted I am at this government and its absolute lack of concern for animals. This is the government which couldn't even pass a decent animal cruelty bill. Those of us who do care have watched this travesty for 10 long years. Just to name a few of the people who are senators. There is Frank Mahovalich,( former NHL hockey star,) Pamela Wallin, (former T.V journalist),Romeo Dallaire,(former army commander)Mike Duffy, (former political commentator). The new Fisheries minister is a woman, Gail Shea, who is a mother and grandmother, who I thought might make a difference(pardon my old-fashioned thinking) but no. She has said there is no way she is going to stop the seal hunt. Can we please adopt Barack Obama?

Posted by: Marilyn. G | March 7, 2009 01:02 PM

OUr useless spineless politicians won't stand up against Newfoundland on this one. They are a province of nice people but who rely on UI when there's no fishing or brain bashing activities to engage in. The answer may be to help them find an industry that doesn't involve hurting animals.

Anyway - Thanks twin2 for the information. we need to discourage retailers/suppliers from deriving profit from this horrific practice.

Posted by: linda | March 8, 2009 05:56 PM

EmmaLee, there is something you can do (or at least your parents) about the fact that Canada's senators aren't elected, it's called a referendum, The Meech Lake Accord, was the last one, and while we're at it, why not have a referendum on ending this horrific ritual? Paul Watson thinks it's a good idea.

Posted by: Patrick Ward | March 9, 2009 01:05 AM

You cannot now ' back-track,' Mr.Ward., you made a statement about personal views of other commentors on this site.

Posted by: Keith | March 9, 2009 08:52 AM

People wishing to thank Mac for his gutsy actions and give him encouragement, can reach him at:

harbsealbill@sen.parl.gc.ca

Or in Canada you can send a postage-free letter to:

Senator Mac Harb: House of Commons
Parliament Buildings
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A6

Posted by: Mike Quinoa | March 9, 2009 09:34 AM

Whatever Keith I'm over it. I don't see why your mate Brandi doesn't get any criticism for basically saying all Canadians are seal killers - he needs to get real. Comments like that apart from being unhelpful, are simply untrue, and I am not in the mood to argue about it because this comments section is about Mac Harb and the effort he is making.

Posted by: Patrick Ward | March 10, 2009 12:30 AM

Yes he did Keith, because Mr Ward disagreed with the post "Those Canadians are discusting lowlifes" which implied that every Canadian is a cold-hearted seal killer, which isn't true. BTW Brandi misspelt a word in that sentence it's with two g's not one. Can't you see how childish and ignorant that is, claiming all Canadians are lowlifes. I bet you'd hate it if someone said, all the people in your country are lowlifes wouldn't you because of a few bad eggs.

OK soapbox has been put away. Time to focus on topic.

Posted by: Neil Warne | March 10, 2009 02:42 AM

Thanks for providing the postal/email addresses, Mike.

Posted by: lynda downie | March 10, 2009 10:37 PM

I don't think they need this hunt, we don't need to wear furs anymore. There are synthetic materials to keep us just as warm as a fur. This hunt to me equates taking a baby, hit them in the head and hope they are stunded, or mercifully dead, take there skin and leave them there to die. No sane person, animal or "thing" would ever think of doing it. What a country.

Posted by: Dot | March 16, 2009 05:02 PM

Wooo! Go Senator Harb! *gets all happy and fuzzy*

We'll make a difference and finally get our country in order, you have my support Mac!

Posted by: Jaime | June 18, 2009 08:33 PM