Canadian ambassador discusses views with activists

Guy Saint-Jacques, Canada's ambassador to China, on Tuesday joined in an open dialogue with a group of Chinese experts, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals who have been protesting against the country's exports of seal products to China.

After a nationwide campaign against Canadian seal products in May, which was led by Blive Global Initiative, an NGO promoting social responsibility, the two parties finally sat down for a three-hour discussion on Tuesday to exchange views on Canada's controversial annual seal harvest.

"Canada should stop selling seal products to China. Trading in seal products has been banned in more than 30 countries, and there have been strong protests among the Chinese public as well. However the Canadian government chooses to ignore our demands," said Tao Bei with Blive Global Initiative.

Tao said that some seal products, such as seal oil and penises, are advertised by Canadian companies in China as food with a high nutritious value that can lower blood pressure, cure cardiovascular diseases and improve men's sexual performance.

"The fact is, some seal products exported from Canada to China were found to contain excessive mercury," she said, adding that "seal oil supplements contain Omega-3 fatty acid, which, according to previous findings by two cancer research institutes in the US and in the UK, may increase the risk of aggressive prostate cancer by 70 percent."

Canadian's seal hunting industry has been described by many animal rights groups around the world as inhumane and loosely monitored.

Seals are skinned alive, they said, and the government does not punish any illegal hunting activities.

Since 2010, more than 100 non-governmental groups have joined in a protest against Canada's seal products through online campaigns and sending postcards to the embassy.

Ambassador Saint-Jacques denied such accusations and said the seal harvest has been the target of much misinformation.

"The government of Canada takes very seriously its role as a steward of wildlife and the environment. The seal harvest regulations incorporate animal welfare principles that are internationally recognized by virtually all independent observers," he said.

He said harvesting seals has provided access to a source of nourishment in an environment of food scarcity, and is a means to support families for Canadians living in the remote Arctic communities. Canada will continue to defend the rights of its fishing communities to pursue their way of life, which has been passed down through generations and is now part of their culture and traditions.