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Senator Christmas’s Poignant Speech to End Cetacean Captivity in Canada

Posted June 15, 2018 in News by Michael Mountain

Senator Daniel Christmas of Nova Scotia addresses his colleagues, June 11th 2018, on behalf of S-203 – the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act.

“In my aboriginal upbringing, we were always taught that animals are our brothers and sisters. They are living beings like us. They have their own spirits, they have their own families, they have their own language. And when I think of it that way, I see cetaceans as equals.”

That’s the perspective that Senator Daniel Christmas brings to the Canadian Senate on how we should be relating to whales and dolphins who are still being held in captivity at aquariums and marine theme parks in Canada.

He speaks of how, during the committee hearings, there was much testimony from humans on both sides of the question, but no testimony was possible from the people who will be most affected by the vote: the whales themselves.

“A lot of the argument talked about the human need to research the species … but I wish it were possible to get the testimony of a cetacean …

“When I see them as objects, it does make sense that we should put them in pens and use them for research and education. But something tells me in my mind and heart that it is the wrong approach. We really have to see cetaceans as our equals, as living beings.

“If I had the opportunity to ask a beluga, I believe I would ask them: “What is best for your family?”

This excerpt from Senator Christmas’s speech runs about six minutes. The full speech, which includes various procedural matters and a recap of the bill’s history, is available here, beginning at 19:56:25.

Bill S-203 – the “Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act” – has been subject to numerous delays since its first reading in December 2015. Following Senator Christmas’s speech, more amendments were introduced in an attempt to exempt the two facilities that currently hold cetaceans in concrete tanks.

Meanwhile, Senator Christmas and his colleagues are working to bring it to a final vote as soon as possible.

5 Comments

  • Wiluya says:
    June 21, 2018 at 11:59 AM

    Happy First Nations/Aboriginal Day!

    Reply
  • Wiluya says:
    June 21, 2018 at 10:38 AM

    Free all whales and dolphins! All animals have a right to freedom as do humans. We’re all animals at risk of confinement and loss of freedom by others. I suffer daily from the horrible mistreatment of the environment, animals, humans and all living things. Find more enlightened attitudes and behaviour towards these great mammals who naturally swim thousands of miles but are tortured by human enslavement for the purse of profit or human convenience. See them in the wild not in a concrete tank prison.

    Reply
    • Wiluya says:
      June 21, 2018 at 11:59 AM

      Error correction: Purpose not Purse above (spellcheck again)!

      Reply
  • Cat Taylor says:
    June 19, 2018 at 12:47 PM

    Great warm intelligent speech. Lets hope that the final vote will bring freedom to all captive whales and dolphins

    Reply
  • Lorraine Garnier says:
    June 15, 2018 at 3:05 PM

    Thank you for posting this honorable, intelligent and humane testimony by Sen. Christmas. These words will be savored and re-quoted for many years to come. May all natural beings return to their home lands and waters. Mahalo.

    Reply

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