Dear Mr. Prime Minister, members of the Cabinet, and others:
Now that we have witnessed one of the most tragic and unnecessary tragedies in the recent history of the annual slaughter known as the seal "hunt," I wonder if you honestly realize the damage you are doing, not only to Newfoundland, but to all of Canada. We are all taught as children that it is our responsibility to protect and nurture our most precious and defenceless wild animals. To massacre innocent seal babies which cannot escape the bloody hakapik (only for their skins), is a crime against nature and to me, a sacrilege against God. A nation is known by how it treats its animals. This is immoral and not one of you appears to have any feelings for these innocent, helpless pups who only deserve a life - just like you.
This "hunt" has become a national disgrace and the word is out all over Europe. Therefore, sending a delegation to the European Union to protest their upcoming ban (on seal products), only makes you look totally out of touch with reality. Everyone I talk to about this is ashamed of your actions and cannot understand why you persist in continuing this practice, knowing that many Canadians find this activity abhorrent and disgusting. Particularly now when the price of pelts has dropped off dramatically and people realize the dangers these men face on those hazardous ice floes - yet, you condone and even subsidize this abhorrent activity. The absolute fact that you allow some of these lesser fishing boats to go out into these hostile and perilous waters is sad commentary on how much you really care about these fishermen as well as prime evidence that your Department of Fisheries and Oceans has no clue about how to manage the marine stocks. The time is now for a major change in our government's policies; the entire program needs an over-haul.
I, personally, am heartsick over the tragic loss of four men. I can only hope that they and their families will finally realize the dangers their government allows them to engage in and will re-think their employment possibilities. To date, you have come up with no programs whatsoever to improve these fishermens' lives. Certainly the province's recent extraordinary oil revenues should encourage people to find work in this field and leave the archaic world of slaughtering seal babies.
That time is over - it does not exist any longer - stop trying to hang on to the past and bring your people into the 21st century. Then, perhaps, we will speak well of Newfoundland and I can be proud once more to live in Canada.
Marcie Gauntlett
Shirley, BC
04-05-2008 Source: SRRC Lenie 't Hart
