Canadian Olympic Committee Turns Down Proposal To Use Seal Skin As Part Of Team's Uniform To Promote Seal Products

May 7, 2009 9:58 a.m. EST

Ottawa, Ontario (AHN) - The Canadian Olympic Committee turned down a proposal by the House of Commons to include the seal skin as part of the national team's uniform for the 2010 Winter Games hosted by Vancouver to promote seal hunting in the light of the seal product ban passed by the European Parliament.

Aside from the fact that the uniform has already been designed, approved by the International Olympic Committee and are being produced, the Olympics forbids the international games being used to promote special causes, reported Globe and Mail.

The House of Commons approved on Wednesday a motion filed by MP Raynald Blais to use the seal skin as part of the athlete's uniform for the winter games.

However, even the Canadian Parliament is not solidly behind the seal hunt. According to the Parliament's record, South Shore-St. Margaret MP Gerald Keddy charged that Liberal Senator Mac Harb even wrote a letter to all members of the European Parliament to vote against the Canadian seal hunting industry. Keddy said Harb called Canadians barbaric because of their support for the seal hunt and advised Canada against pursuing international action at the World Trade Organization.

Another group hoping to ride on the Vancouver Games to stop the seal hunt is the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. In its website, PETA called on people to write the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee to demand that they help put a stop to the seal hunt. Aside from the VOOC, PETA encouraged anti-seal hunt groups to send the same letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Governor General Michaelle Jean and other top national officials.

PETA pointed out that 205,000 individual seals were killed last year in Canada. It described the hunt as a money-making scheme organized by professional fishers and called for a permanent end to the seal slaughter.

The 2010 Winter Games is barely a year away. Canada will field 95 athletes and 93 officials and support staff in what could turn out to be a politically charged athletic event.