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Canada

Pig Business in Canada

Resources

Summary

Pork products play a large role in Canada’s agribusiness economy accounting for 30% of total livestock shipments (canadapork.com). Every year 30 million pigs are slaughtered after having been reared in unbearable conditions of confinement and filth. Male piglets are subject to castration without anaesthetic, whilst many sows have to endure a life of imprisonment in gestation crates (although this practise, supported by many supermarkets, is hoped to be phased out by as late as 2022). Recent studies have also confirmed that an overuse of antibiotics in such facilities has led to increased levels of antibiotic resistant bacteria, posing serious health risks to nearby communities and the consumers at large. Yet even in the face of a series of methane and hydrogen sulphide dense, self-combusting factory pig farms the industry seems relentless to continue the intensification of pig factory farming.

Campaigns/organisations to support

Resetting the Table: A People’s Food Policy for Canada

This project is working with the food movement and others across Canada to analyse, organize, and support the development of policies for food sovereignty, instead of policies that support the globalized, industrialized food system. It will both reflect and support the work of Canadians to create a food system based on care and respect for humans and the natural world. GO

National Farmer’s Union

nfuc

The NFU is the only voluntary direct-membership national farm organization in Canada that works toward the development of economic and social policies that will maintain the family farm as the primary food-producing unit in Canada. GO

Slow Food Canada

sfc

Slow Food Canada is a non-profit organisation that was founded to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world. October 21st see’s Slow Food at the Terra Madre Event, which will bring together cooks around the world, this year specifically focusing on cultural and linguistic diversities. GO

Beyond Factory Farming

bff

Beyond Factory Farming promotes sociably responsible livestock production in Canada, helping communities that are dealing with problems caused by factory farms and factory farm proposals. GO

Citizens’ Guide to Confronting a Factory Farm

Citizens’ Guide to Confronting a Factory Farm has been created by Beyond Factory Farming to help you understand the issues surrounding factory farms and assist you in organizing your community.
www.citizensguide.ca/

Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals (CCFA)

CCFA is dedicated to promoting the welfare of animals raised for food in Canada through public education, legislative change and consumer choice. CCFA supporters are animal protection organizations across Canada representing over 120,000 Canadians.
www.humanefood.ca/

Food Secure Canada

Food Secure Canada is a national voice for the food security movement in Canada. It is a non-profit organization with individual and organization members across Canada. The organization is based in three interlocking commitments to: Zero Hunger; Healthy and Safe Food; A Sustainable Food System.
www.foodsecurecanada.org

WSPA Canada

WSPA Canada exists to tackle animal cruelty across the globe. They work directly with animals and with the people and organizations that can ensure animals are treated with respect and compassion. They have created the following video to highlight the negative effects of factory farming: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ktmUEniuYw
www.wspa.ca/food

Union Paysanne

Union Paysanne work to encourage small farms and local marketing of products to halt the industrialization of farms and the depopulation of the countryside; to ensure the quality of food and of the environment; and to restore rural citizenship
www.unionpaysanne.com

Avoid factory farmed pork

Local Food Plus (LFP)
LFP is Canada’s premier solutions provider for local sustainable procurement. They certify farms and processors for environmentally and socially sustainable practices, make connections throughout the supply chain, do public speaking and community outreach to help eaters understand the many pluses of local sustainable food systems, and help buyers of all different sizes find Certified Local Sustainable food.
www.localfoodplus.ca

The Saskatchewan Organic Directorate
The Saskatchewan Organic Directorate is a non-profit, membership-based, umbrella organization that unites the province’s producers, processors, buyers, traders, certifiers and consumers of certified organic food and fibre.
www.saskorganic.com/article/saskatchewan-organic-directorate

Pork products play a large role in Canada’s agribusiness economy accounting for 30% of total livestock shipments (canadapork.com). Every year 30 million pigs are slaughtered after having been reared in unbearable conditions of confinement and filth. Male piglets are subject to castration without anaesthesic, whilst many sows have to endure a life of imprisonment in gestation crates (although this practise is hoped to be phased out by as late as 2022). Recent studies have also confirmed that an overuse of antibiotics in such facilities has led to increased levels of antibiotic resistant bacteria, posing serious health risks to nearby communities and the consumers at large.