Labrador MP Says Senator’s Sealing Bill is Irrelevant

OTTAWA, March 2, 2009 — Labrador MP Todd Russell said today that he will seek to defeat a private Senator’s bill proposed by Ontario Senator Mac Harb.

“I have always been a strong defender of a humane and sustainable seal hunt in Labrador and other regions of Canada where sealing is an important part of the local economy and culture,” Russell said. “Senator Harb’s bill can only strengthen my resolve, and that of the people of Labrador and other northern and coastal areas, to protect our sealing industry.”

Russell said that he is disappointed that Harb did not consult with Members of Parliament or Senators from provinces and territories where sealing is carried out.

“Senator Harb, like any Parliamentarian, is free to introduce whatever bill he wants on whatever subject he wants,” Russell said. “However, the public in my riding should know that his bill does not represent the official policy of the federal Liberal party or the Liberal caucus. In fact, we have made our position very clear: the Liberal party supports the Canadian seal hunt.”

The Labrador MP is disappointed that the Harper government has attempted to make partisan hay out of Harb’s bill.

“We don’t have any lessons to learn from the Conservatives about support for the sealing industry,” Russell said. “The Conservatives have lowered quotas, and since the Conservatives came to power, international activities to undermine our sealing industry have been at levels that we haven’t seen since the 1970s.”

Russell says that he is confident that Mac Harb’s bill has no chance of being passed if it ever even comes to a vote in the Senate, let alone come into law.

“The Liberal majority in the Senate, along with support from other Senators, will be sufficient to make sure that Harb’s wrong-headed, misinformed proposal never sees the light of day. In the end, this bill is irrelevant and meaningless.”

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Todd Russell, MP

Labrador

(613) 996-4630