Photo by WeAnimals
By Jeffrey Phillips
Election season is underway and your vote counts – especially in the push to end fur farming in Canada! On Monday April 28, 2025, Canadians head to the polls in one of the most consequential federal elections in history. While we expect all political parties to be focused on key issues like tariffs, the U.S. relationship, and housing and affordability, animals need your voice more than ever.
One issue that matters to Canadians is fur farming. A 2024 public opinion poll by Research Co. reveals that 78 percent of Canadians oppose killing animals for their fur. In 2024-25, thousands of Canadians (7,058), including many of you, signed federal e-petition e-5269 to introduce a nationwide ban on fur farming.
For background, fur farms are industrial operations where caged animals are bred and killed for the commercial fashion fur trade. See our report Fur Farming in Canada: Towards a Post-Fur Future for more about this outdated and harmful practice.
Fur farms pose a risk to public health, undermine Indigenous values, negatively impact local ecosystems and raise serious animal welfare concerns. For all these reasons and more, in 2024, we launched a campaign calling for a nationwide prohibition on fur farming. We have sent a questionnaire to the major federal political parties asking for their position on fur farming and whether they would commit to a national prohibition. Now, we are asking all of you to use the 2025 Federal election to get the word out: it’s time to end fur farming.
Here are some tips to maximize your impact:
- Get up to speed on fur farming and the risks it poses to human health, the environment, and animal welfare by visiting www.FurFarming.ca.
- Look for opportunities to speak to political candidates running for office in your riding. They may knock on your door. Perhaps there is a town hall happening in your neighbourhood. Where possible, look to speak with candidates in person to share your views on fur farming.
- Ask questions. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to present facts on an issue, so we recommend asking simple questions like:
- Are there any animal protection policies or initiatives in your Party’s electoral platform?
- Would you support a prohibition on fur farming in Canada?
- Vote, vote, and vote! Even with the best of intentions, sometimes life gets busy, and we forget the power we have when we vote. Be sure to block time and arrange plans so that you can head to the polls on Monday April 28, 2025. Visit the Elections Canada website for easy access to information about your riding, candidates, and your local Elections Canada office.
- Spread the word. Talk to friends, family, and colleagues about fur farming and why it matters to you.
A federal election is a rare opportunity to engage with candidates from different political parties and tell them what matters to you. Let’s make sure that all parties hear loud and clear: it’s time to end fur farming.
About Jeffrey Phillips
Jeff Phillips is the Managing Director of Dawson Strategic and a fellow of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. He is an expert in sustainability policy and works with a range of environmental and animal organizations.
