Ban fur farming nationwide
Petitioners ask Canada to prohibit fur farming for all species nationwide. The government responds that welfare and zoonotic risks are handled by provincial regulation, federal law, national codes and ongoing evidence‑based review.
Why we would sign this petition
- Eliminates intensive fur‑farm reservoirs that petitioners say increase zoonotic transmission risk (e.g., coronaviruses, influenza).
- Ends extreme confinement practices that petitioners say cause significant pain and suffering to wild and farmed animals.
- Aligns Canada with other countries and public opinion favouring a nationwide ban on a non‑essential luxury industry.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Jurisdictional issues: provinces have primary responsibility for farm animal welfare, so a federal ban could face legal and implementation challenges.
- May harm Indigenous cultural, subsistence and economic practices that the government says involve fur in some communities.
- Existing tools—provincial regulation, national codes of practice and biosecurity measures—could mitigate risks without a blanket prohibition.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Government of Canada Fur farming poses a public health risk to Canadians; Fur-farmed animals can carry high-risk zoonotic diseases including coronaviruses and influenza; The intensive breeding and captivity of fur-bearing animal species increases the risk of zoonotic disease transmission between humans and animals; British Columbia banned mink farming due to its public health risk; Infectious disease specialists in Canada identified fur farming as a hazardous practice and have called on the Government of Canada to end fur farming; The extreme confinement of wildlife on fur farms causes significant pain and suffering to animals; Wolves, bobcats, foxes, lynx, chinchillas, and minks are species known to be commercially farmed for their fur in Canada, and the National Farm Animal Care Council has only developed Codes of Practice for the farming of minks and foxes; The federal government is responsible for prohibiting animal suffering and protecting public health and the environment; Industrial fur farming is incongruent with the values and traditions of many First Nations; Canada is one of the few remaining countries in the world where fur farming is still legal and has active fur farms (over twenty countries have banned fur farming); Fur farming is a socially unacceptable practice as it commercializes Canadian wildlife for non-essential, luxury fashion fur products that are sold on international markets; and Public opinion surveys reinforce that most Canadians overwhelmingly support a nationwide prohibition on fur farming; We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to prohibit the practice of fur farming for all species of animals.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Signed by The Honourable Heath MacDonald, PC, MP The health and welfare of animals is important to the Government of Canada. This is a shared responsibility that rests not only with the federal government but also with provincial and territorial governments, industry, and many others. Canadian provinces, as enabled under the Constitution Act, have the primary responsibility for protecting the welfare of animals, including farm animals and pets. Provincial and territorial legislation respecting animal welfare, where found, vary in scope and context. The interpretation, application, and enforcement of provincial farm welfare legislation must, and most appropriately, reside under their jurisdiction. Federally, the Criminal Code of Canada prohibits anyone from willfully causing animals to suffer from neglect, pain, and injury. The Criminal Code is enforced by police services, provincial and territorial Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals, and/or provincial and territorial ministries of agriculture. Moreover, fur farming operations are subject to provincial and territorial licensing and regulation, including biosecurity protocols and animal welfare standards. For example, British Columbia’s Animal Health Act governs fur farming activities, and other provinces have similar frameworks. While fur-farmed species such as mink and foxes have demonstrated susceptibility to zoonotic diseases like SARS-CoV-2 and avian influenza A (H5N1), it is important to contextualize this risk within the broader landscape of animal agriculture. According to some studies, approximately 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, and biosecurity and zoonotic disease challenges are not exclusive to fur farms, as many other livestock species can also pose significant zoonotic risks. (Cleaveland et al., 2001; Jones et al., 2008). Globally, livestock production systems face similar risks, and integrated surveillance is recommended across species. These risks can be mitigated in a number of ways, primarily through sound animal health (e.g. vaccination, appropriate husbandry and management) and biosecurity practices. The Government of Canada acknowledges the concerns raised during the COVID-19 pandemic with respect to zoonotic disease and public health risk related to animal-to-human disease transmission. It should be noted that this pandemic was driven by human transmission, not farm-to-farm or animal-to-human spread. There were only limited outbreaks of the virus on mink farms, each of which was quickly addressed in cooperation with federal and provincial authorities. Meanwhile, human behaviour, movements and interactions continue to result in the generation and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Canada. Although British Columbia implemented a phased ban on mink farming, citing specific outbreaks and public health risks, this decision was made at the provincial level and does not reflect a national consensus. Furthermore, this ban was in reaction to COVID-19, and specific concerns related to transmission between mink and humans. Again, it is important to recognize that agriculture is a shared jurisdiction between the federal, provincial, and territorial governments. On the federal front, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency developed national guidance on preventing and responding to SARS-CoV-2 infections in farmed mink and this was shared with the provinces, territories and industry to protect both human and animal health. Canada has established science-based Codes of Practice for the care and handling of farmed mink and foxes through the National Farm Animal Care Council. Development of each Code requires engagement by the entire value chain, from farmers and veterinarians who care for animals on-farm, to transporters, processors and retailers, as well as the federal and provincial governments and humane organizations. These Codes are continually reviewed (on a 5-year cycle) and renewed based on new developments in animal welfare research, changing societal expectations, and new and innovative technologies. The Codes include requirements for housing, biosecurity, health management, and humane euthanasia. While Codes for other fur-bearing species have not yet been developed, the National Farm Animal Care Council process is ongoing and inclusive of scientific and stakeholder input. The Government of Canada is committed to improving animal welfare across all sectors. While fur farming involves some wild species, generations of domesticated lines of mink and foxes have been bred in Canada, and welfare standards are enforced through National Farm Animal Care Council codes and provincial oversight. The Government of Canada continues to support research and innovation to improve housing, enrichment, and humane handling practices across all sectors. While recent polls suggest that many Canadians oppose fur farming, the Government must take a range of factors into account when developing evidence-based policy. Fur has cultural, economic, and subsistence value for many Indigenous communities, particularly in northern and remote regions. A blanket ban on fur farming could inadvertently impact traditional practices and livelihoods. The Government of Canada is committed to reconciliation and respectful engagement with Indigenous Peoples in all policy decisions. It must also balance ethical concerns with scientific evidence, economic impacts, legal frameworks, and public and stakeholder perspectives. Fur farming remains a legal and regulated industry under existing frameworks in Canada, and any future changes will be guided by comprehensive risk assessments and stakeholder consultations. The Government of Canada will continue to monitor developments in zoonotic disease research, animal welfare science, and international policy trends. It remains open to dialogue, stakeholder views, and evidence-based policy setting on this important issue.