Canada House Passes Bill S-203, the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act

It’s a hopeful Monday, folks. On the morning of June 10, 2019, Canada’s House of Commons voted overwhelmingly to favor and pass Bill S-203, the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act (also known as the "Free Willy" Bill"). Enactment would ban the trade, possession, capture, breeding, and captivity of cetaceans for entertainment. The bill, introduced in 2015 by Senator Wilfred Moore and sponsored by Senator Murray Sinclair, pushed through to the House in October 2018 after its 3-year-long gestation in the Senate.

The bill has been backed by Green Party leader Elizabeth May in the House of Commons and supported by many thousands of people, including NDP MP Don Davies, who had this to say about captivity:

“Confinement and social isolation are used as punishment for humans. When our species is kept in small indoor spaces without any control of our environment or food sources, we experience profound psychological harm. It’s clear that the same negative impacts occur for these highly intelligent creatures. Frankly, it’s cruel.”

Cetaceans that are currently in captivity would be exempt from the ban. Currently, the only two facilities in Canada with cetaceans are Marineland in Ontario’s Niagara Falls, and the Vancouver Aquarium. If the bill receives royal assent, these facilities would no longer be able to breed, import, or export their dolphins and whales.

ACTION ALERT:

Congratulations to everyone who has fought to push this Bill through. Now we need YOU to help get this bill through its last stage. Ask Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to sign Bill S-203 into law:

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
Fax: 613-941-6900

https://pm.gc.ca/eng/connect (Use the Email Form under “Contact Prime Minister”)

Dolphins, beluga whales, and orcas do not belong in small concrete tanks for our entertainment. Please donate to help the international marine mammal project continue their fight against the captivity of cetaceans.