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COP15 - UN Climate Change Conference, Copenhagen 2009
Seal meat in Parliamentary restaurant
last update: Nov 20, 2009 10:13 AM
From various articles: The Canadian Parliament's swishy private restaurant on Parliament Hill will soon be serving seal meat as part of its menu. For some this will be a tasty addition to the menu, to others it is absolutely disgusting, not to mention morally reprehensible.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and cabinet members eat seal meat in Iqaluit (photo - Jason Ransom, PMO Handout - Reuters)
Quebec Liberal MP Marcel Proulx, a spokesman for the Board of Internal Economy, which oversees administration of the parliamentary precinct said "I think it's going to be an attractive addition to the menu when it's available." whilst Governor General Michaëlle Jean declared it to be "absolutely delicious."
This was not the first time that the board, made up of MPs from all parties, had first asked to add seal meat to the restaurant's menu. Last year senators wanting to show support for the small commercial seal hunt. In June of this year, the board was approached again by Bloc Québécois MP Michel Guimond after the European Union trade ban.
Not everybody is excited about the idea. Liberal Senator Mac Harb, a former municipal politician in Ottawa, said "The harp seal that they are talking about and are so excited about, it tastes horrible. If they were to do this, it would be important for them to take a leadership role and have a feast first before any other members of Parliament so they can see first-hand how tasty it is. I'm sure they'll conclude quite quickly it's not edible."
Objections also came from other sides. PETA, (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has posted its activists outside the Prime Minister's Office dressed in a harp seal costume, complete with sad black eyes, perky whiskers and velvet fur. The group is urging Canada to put the 7,000 or so remaining seal hunters out of their industrial misery.
Dan Mathews, PETA's Virginia-based vice-president, said "It's a very peculiar disturbing cruelty unique to Canada and it's just bizarre when a country like Canada, which is known for so many advanced policies in the social realm, would be so stuck in the dark ages about their support for such a hideous cruelty."
Read more:
The Star, 18th November 2009
Anchorage Daily News, 19th November 2009
