Manitoba Animal Save

Join us Saturday, June 27th from 1pm-3pm at Pan Am Jumpstart Playground (On Grant in front of Pan Am Pool) in support of a ban on the live export of horses from Canada to Japan. Children are invited to colour a horse coloring page provided by Animal Justice Academy that will then be mailed to Prime Minister Mark Carney advocating for this ban. Language and advocacy during this event will be age-appropriate, positive, and empowering for children.

This is an opportunity for kids to show their compassion for animals and use their voices to make a difference!

All ages welcome! All supplies provided! Color to be a hero for horses, then stay to play with a great group of kids at the playground afterwards ☀️

Hosted in partnership by MAS and CC.
compassionate_classrooms

Thanks to Animal Justice Action Team for the awesome coloring sheets!

💥🐿 Reminder that appeals close tomorrow, June 12th and can be sent to [email protected]

I'll include the appeal I sent on behalf of Manitoba Animal Save below:

Dear Minister Moyes,

I am writing on behalf of Manitoba Animal Save to again appeal the decision to approve the City of Winnipeg's application to use Rozol RTU Field Rodent Bait and RoCon Concentrate Rodenticide for Richardson's Ground Squirrel management. As per the letter attachment, the closing date on this appeal period is June 12th, 2026.

While the decision letter sent to us emphasizes the importance of maintaining safe athletic fields and accessible green spaces, it does not explain why poisoning was decided as the necessary method over available non-lethal alternatives. If lethal wildlife management is approved for public land, there should be clear evidence shared with the public that humane management options have been fully explored and found ineffective.

In 2025, the province denied the city's pesticide permit application, citing the availability of more humane alternatives. The 2026 decision does not explain what new evidence or circumstances have emerged to justify reversing that decision. We respectfully request that the province clarify why humane alternatives were considered sufficient last year and are no longer considered adequate this year.

We are also concerned about the significant animal welfare impacts associated with poison, as well as the risks to non-target species, pets, and scavengers that consume poisoned animals. These risks remain even with the proposed mitigation measures of signage and twice daily checks in poisoned areas.

Many Manitobans participated in the public consultation process because they believe that our city's urban wildlife management decisions should reflect compassion, coexistence, science-based solutions, and environmental responsibility. We respectfully ask that the permit be reconsidered and that Winnipeg be directed to prioritize non-lethal and preventative strategies instead.

Thank you for considering our appeal.

Sincerely,

Danae Tonge

Manitoba Animal Save

Regan Russell Memorial Chalking & Vegan Potluck

Regan lived for several years in Winnipeg, and we wish to honor her life and legacy, and share her activism with the world by gathering together to share a vegan potluck, and then chalk messages of love, veganism, and animal rights, in memory of Regan.

We will meet at the Upper Fort Garry picnic table (between Main Street and Broadway) to share a light dinner together. Please bring a vegan dish or drinks to share, and your own plate, utensils, and cup, to keep the event low waste.
After the potluck, we will head down to Main Street together to chalk. Chalk provided.

In observance of the six year anniversary of Regan's death, we are again asking for $5 donations to Free From Farm Sanctuary and Little Red Barn Sanctuary in Regans honor.

you can etransfer them directly at:

Free From Farm Sanctuary:
[email protected]

The Little Red Barn Sanctuary:
[email protected]

All welcome!!!

Our next Activist & Vegan Support Group ✨️

Saturday, July 4th, 1pm -3pm St Vital Park (Winnipeg) by the duck pond 💜

💥Update on Provincial push to end live horse exports 🐎

Yesterday, Manitoba Animal Save received a response from the Manitoba government regarding our concerns and their commitment about the live export of horses from Manitoba to Japan for slaughter.

Earlier this year, I emailed Premier Wab Kinew, Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn, and Minister Nahanni Fontaine urging the Manitoba government to follow through on previous reported commitments to pressure the federal government to finally ban live horse exports for slaughter.

In response, Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Lisa Joachim acknowledged these concerns and stated that animal welfare is an issue the government “takes very seriously.” The letter outlines existing federal transport regulations and CFIA oversight, but it does not answer several key questions we raised, which are:

What concrete actions has Manitoba taken to pressure the federal government to enact a ban?

Will the Manitoba government publicly reaffirm its commitment to ending live horse exports for slaughter?

What specific steps will be taken moving forward?

👉 However, there have also been important developments lately.

Last week, the assistant to Minister Kostyshyn called me to assure that the Manitoba NDP government is lobbying the federal government for this ban. I asked whether Minister Kostyshyn supports a ban on live horse exports or whether agricultural and CFIA interests were preventing action, and I was told that Minister Kostyshyn supports the ban.

I explained that advocates are continuing to remind Ottawa of previous commitments, send postcards, organize public pressure, and encourage people to contact their MP's and he agreed that this appears to be the best course of action right now.

A few days ago, my Member of Parliament Doug Eyolfson called me to confirm that he is also lobbying Ottawa to ban these live exports. Duting our call he took notes for a lobbying letter his office is preparing and discussed the importance of continuing to push this issue federally.

I also visited my MP Eyolfson 's office to drop off petitions calling for an end to the live export of horses for slaughter, aa have several other advocates in our riding. Thank you Stephanie Delios Laura Potts Christine Krahn .

So where are we now?
We now have commitments from the Manitoba NDP government to lobby Ottawa, support from Manitoba’s Minister of Agriculture, and multiple MPs pushing this issue federally.

This means the issue is already on the radar politically.

What we need now is a massive collective push to ensure this ban becomes part of the new federal Liberal agenda.

📢 CALL TO ACTION

Please continue contacting your Member of Parliament and ask them if they are bringing this issue to Ottawa, and whether they support amending the Health of Animals Regulations to ban the live export of horses for slaughter.

[email protected]
[email protected]
https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en

Remind them of the Liberal government’s previous commitment to end these live exports.

You can also:
send postcards to the Prime Minister, share this post, speak to friends and family, and help keep public pressure on this issue.

We still have postcards available and can order more if there is enough demand and donations.

You can print Animal Justice’s petition here: https://animaljustice.ca/take-action/ban-live-horse-export

This movement has persisted for years because all of you refuse to give up on these horses.

And now is the time to push harder than ever.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/animal-welfare-debate-manitoba-election-1.6977168

Yesterday, Manitoba Animal Save received a response from the Manitoba government regarding our concerns and their commitment about the live export of horses from Manitoba to Japan for slaughter.

Earlier this year, I emailed Premier Wab Kinew, Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn, and Minister Nahanni Fontaine urging the Manitoba government to follow through on previous reported commitments to pressure the federal government to finally ban live horse exports for slaughter.

In response, Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Lisa Joachim acknowledged these concerns and stated that animal welfare is an issue the government “takes very seriously.” The letter outlines existing federal transport regulations and CFIA oversight, but it does not answer several key questions we raised, which are:

What concrete actions has Manitoba taken to pressure the federal government to enact a ban?

Will the Manitoba government publicly reaffirm its commitment to ending live horse exports for slaughter?

What specific steps will be taken moving forward?

👉However, there have also been important developments lately.

Last week, the assistant to Minister Kostyshyn called me to assure that the Manitoba NDP government is lobbying the federal government for this ban. I asked whether Minister Kostyshyn supports a ban on live horse exports or whether agricultural and CFIA interests were preventing action, and I was told that Minister Kostyshyn supports the ban.

I explained that advocates are continuing to remind Ottawa of previous commitments, send postcards, organize public pressure, and encourage people to contact their MP's and he agreed that this appears to be the best course of action right now.

A few days ago, my Member of Parliament Doug Eyolfson called me to confirm that he is also lobbying Ottawa to ban these live exports. During our call he took notes for a lobbying letter his office is preparing and discussed the importance of continuing to push this issue federally.

I also visited my MP Eyolfson 's office to drop off petitions calling for an end to the live export of horses for slaughter, as have several other advocates in our riding. Thank you Stephanie Delios Laura Potts Christine Krahn .

So where are we now?

We now have commitments from the Manitoba NDP government to lobby Ottawa, support from Manitoba’s Minister of Agriculture, and multiple MPs pushing this issue federally.

This means the issue is already on the radar politically.

What we need now is a massive collective push to ensure this ban becomes part of the new federal Liberal agenda.

📢 CALL TO ACTION
Please continue contacting your Member of Parliament and ask them if they are bringing this issue to Ottawa, and whether they support amending the Health of Animals Regulations to ban the live export of horses for slaughter.

[email protected]
[email protected]
https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en

Remind them of the Liberal government’s previous commitment to end these live exports.

You can also:
send postcards to the Prime Minister, share this post, speak to friends and family, and help keep public pressure on this issue.

We still have postcards available and can order more if there is enough demand and donations.

You can print Animal Justice’s petition here: https://animaljustice.ca/take-action/ban-live-horse-export

This movement has persisted for years because all of you refuse to give up on these horses.
And now is the time to push harder than ever.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/animal-welfare-debate-manitoba-election-1.6977168

Call to Action: Another Opportunity to Appeal!

As we all now know, our Manitoba government has approved the City of Winnipeg’s application to use rodenticides on Richardson Ground Squirrels on athletic fields inside our city.

Despite much public outcry and expert opposition to this wildlife poisoning, the permit has already been granted for one year (March- October 2026).

Poisons do not discriminate. They move through ecosystems, harming our ground squirrels, poisoning predators like hawks, owls, foxes, and coyotes, and putting companion animals and children at risk.

Humane, non-lethal, and proactive alternatives exist, yet our city (as well as several other cities across Canada) have chosen lethal action. This is a disturbing trend.

👉 But we have another opportunity to appeal

The Minister’s letter confirms that public feedback was received and reviewed. That reinforces what we already know: our voices matter, and we must keep using them.

We are calling on advocates to:

• Email the Minister of Environment and Climate Change at [email protected] within the 30-day appeal window and also to [email protected]

• Share this post to help build public awareness
Safe, usable green spaces should not come at a cost of poisoning urban wildlife and destroying ecosystems.
This is about squirrels, and it is also about what kind of city we want to have.

Remember this at election time. The kind of leadership we expect, and elect, for our city.

This letter is dated May 13th so it's assumed the 30-day appeal period is from that date and would end on June 12, 2026.

The rodenticides permit was issued by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change on March 13th, so that appeal process has already closed.

This is a new appeal period.

Please send your submissions in to [email protected] and [email protected] by June 12th 2026 to ensure they are received in time.

* Reiterate the points made in your previous submissions, and I'll include some sample points in the comments